Is this the most spineless thing...
our Dr.PM has done yet on this tour?
This whole foreign jaunt of Dr.PM has been a big let down. Right from thanking Britain for the "beneficial aspects" of their colonial rule to his address to the U.S Congress, our PM has shown that when it comes to foreign policy, he lacks vision and even the courage to envision India's deserved future.
The current geo-politico-economic strategy of all countries revolves around oil and natural gas. Read that line a hundred times until you see its implications in almost every article that you read. Given its importance, the proposed gas pipeline from Iran across Pakistan to India has immense consequences for the future. It is imperative that India get over Pakistan and give this pipeline the importance it demands. India and China, in a matter of a decade, have the momentum to cripple the US economy purely by dint of their surging oil needs. Unfortunately, our PM doesn't seem to have the spine for the task ahead.
posted by Prashanth Pappu @ 11:28 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
IM, I have to disagree here. I don't think going ahead with the Iran-pipeline deal is a good idea. If you look at Indo-Pak history, neither side has ever had any qualms about reneging on promises. In fact backstabbing is usually the first option each side considers.
On the other hand India should aggressively utilize its resources in the nuclear power realm. India has enough Thorium supplies to satisfy the world's energy needs for the next 200 years. I have this nugget of info on the authority of a Chem teacher in high school who was formerly at BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) - he had to leave BARC because of health issues related to nuclear exposure ...
But I agree with you re: the spineless display by our PM - complete opposite of the macho Punjab-da-puttar image one would associate... Of course crippling the US economy is not really beneficial to either side, but we should use that bargaining chip to deter the US from walking all over us on foreign (and even domestic) policy issues.
Dear Manmohan shows us again why politics is best left to the politicians. That's the reason I was a fan of Chandrasekhar (remember him ?) - corrupt as hell and a complete moron, but a moron with a spine.
CRP,
I think one of the biggest leap required in India's foreign policy is to look beyond Pakistan.
The BJP tried to.
Nuclear weapons make sense only when you look beyond - the importance of military might and nuclear armoury in emerging power centre etc.
Similarly, with oil and gas, India has to take a 10-20 year view. Will Pakistan still continue to be as much a problem? More than saying yes or no, it is important that we have leaders who step in and say we will not let it be a problem.
The pipeline is the spine of the proposed asian grid. Indias and Chinas surging demands have the potential to make this the corner stone of increased economic and political leverage in the world. And ofcourse, gas thru pipes is way cheaper than the gas thru sea ships etc.
The nuclear power argument has its merits but not only can it not fulfill our energy demands but is wrought with huge management issues.
But the point is that almost all of US actions - war on Iraq, no to Kyoto protocol (and questioning scientists claim on global warming), no to the pipeline (which in fact has the potential to act as insurance for Indo-Pak peace) - are all directly influenced by its need to control oil supplies.
If nuclear energy is good enough for future economies - then why the obsession with oil?
India's yes for a pipeline is not a move to cripple US economy but more a strategic move to improve its economy and gain greater leverage in world affairs.
Say we hadn't tested the nuclear weapons. This episode is akin to Manmohan going and telling the US - ok we won't test em etc and you gave us a compensatory package. The spinmeisters are again going to tell the public - look Pak can also get nuclear weapons, so no point in losing our military advantage etc. But why did we go ahead with the tests? because there are greater consequences beyond Pakistan. I think... anyway.
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