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India-Pakistan
‘Money down the toilet:’ India security experts on Harper’s $1-million armoured car
2013-01-30
The governmentÂ’s decision to fly an armoured vehicle to India at a cost of more than $1-million for Prime Minister Stephen HarperÂ’s state visit last November mystified Indian diplomats, and prominent security analysts in the country say it reflects a shocking lack of understanding of modern India on the part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, whom the government says recommended the move.

“To think that India cannot protect a visiting dignitary is testament to very poor intelligence in Western countries and a failure of comprehension – it’s just plain stupid,” said Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in Delhi and a leading expert on terrorism in South Asia. “From a pure security perspective, it’s money down the toilet.”

The Indian government had offered Canada the use of an armoured Mercedes Benz for Mr. Harper’s visit but after a “threat assessment” the RCMP decided it was not sufficient.

India’s president uses an armoured Mercedes Mercedes Benz S600, while prime minister Manmohan Singh – whose security team receives roughly a dozen serious threats to his personal security each day – uses an armoured 2009 BMW 7 Series for his travel in the country, security sources say. Canada instead brought an armoured Cadillac limousine and SUV.
Posted by:tipper

#4  What could possibly go wrong?
Posted by: Indira Ghandi   2013-01-30 16:39  

#3  Hey! What a million bucks, anyway? Chump change for a government that just can't stop spending no matter what. No wonder the so-call "Conservative" Party of Canada call me about one a month for more money.
Posted by: Canuckistan sniper   2013-01-30 16:19  

#2  India may take it as an insult, but bringing your own is one way to make sure the vehicle has not been tampered with. Not that the Indians are untrustworthy per se, but they live in a nasty neighborhood.
Posted by: SteveS   2013-01-30 15:48  

#1  Canada instead brought an armoured Cadillac limousine and SUV.
They may be the hat, but they're still Americans.
Posted by: Shipman   2013-01-30 15:34  

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