Article

2008-01-06 India-Pakistan

To stabilize Pakistan, U.S. needs to rethink India policy

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Posted by john frum 2008-01-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11137 views ] Top
File under: Govt of Pakistan

#1 It would be a major U.S. foreign policy blunder to indulge Musharraf in bashing Bhutto's internal detractors. The United States needs to seriously consider recasting its India policy in favor of a more balanced approach, while steering clear of Pakistan's domestic politics. Otherwise, the United States risks further alienation of Pakistan's political elite.

How did I know this was coming? I have a better idea. Arm India to the teeth, cut off all funding and military aid to "Pakistan", occupy all Pak nuke sites and destroy/remove everything of value, treat the tribal areas as the enemy ground they are and enact a policy of sterilization from 100 thousand feet.

Posted by Excalibur 2008-01-06 08:03|| 2008-01-06 08:03|| Front Page Top

#2 Sounds about right, Excalibur...

Posted by M. Murcek">M. Murcek 2008-01-06 08:47|| 2008-01-06 08:47|| Front Page Top

#3 Right on Excal ! Pakland is an infection like gangrene. If it isn't removed it spreads and detroys the host(Indian subcontinent).

Posted by Woozle Elmeter 2907 2008-01-06 10:19|| 2008-01-06 10:19|| Front Page Top

#4 I have no problem with any part of Excalibur's proposal except Arm India to the teeth. Why arm a country that almost launched an attack on Diego Garcia? Note that I'm not saying that an attack on Diego Garcia would have been wrong (or right, for that matter) - only that it would have been against our national interests. Ironically, Indian irredentism in the form of the conquest of Goa (conquered by the Portuguese) may have touched off Chinese irredentism in the form of the Chinese invasion of India's border areas (conquered by the British). I think we need to understand that India has its own national interests, and for most of the India state's existence (since 1948), they have been contrary to ours.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-01-06 11:52|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-01-06 11:52|| Front Page Top

#5 I have, of course, taken Arm India to the teeth to mean doing this on Indian terms, which is to provide them the latest technology to make the weaponry, and to sell the weaponry to them at cost (which may have been why the Russians are raising prices). The traditional expression for driving a hard bargain is to Jew someone down. A more apt expression would be to Indian (or to Chinese) someone down. Remember that it was the Indians who took Enron for a ride that cost Enron $1b. There's a reason few corporations manufacture in India - sleazy as the Chinese are, the Indians are sleazier.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-01-06 12:07|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-01-06 12:07|| Front Page Top

#6 Interesting observations ZF.

As for Excalibur's comments, is 100,000 feet correct? Wouldn't 40,000 be more appropriate? What is the most effective ceiling for a B-52?

Posted by Chusong Grundy6409 2008-01-06 12:18|| 2008-01-06 12:18|| Front Page Top

#7 Did he crib it, mutatis mutandis, from one of the articles blaming all USA woes on you know who?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-01-06 13:11|| 2008-01-06 13:11|| Front Page Top

#8 Zhang never stops amazing me.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2008-01-06 13:12|| 2008-01-06 13:12|| Front Page Top

#9 Why arm a country that almost launched an attack on Diego Garcia?

When was this?

Posted by john frum 2008-01-06 13:24|| 2008-01-06 13:24|| Front Page Top

#10 There's a reason few corporations manufacture in India - sleazy as the Chinese are, the Indians are sleazier.

Actually it is the poor state of Indian infrastructure (roads, rail, ports, power, water) that really hobbles export oriented manufacture.

Companies like Bechtel, IBM, Intel, HP, Microsoft all have design and development centers in India. If they are comfortable with their intellectual property being developed there, despite the sleaziness, low wage assembly and manufacture would not really be a problem.

Posted by john frum 2008-01-06 14:02|| 2008-01-06 14:02|| Front Page Top

#11 I don't believe Pakistan can be stabilized.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2008-01-06 14:45|| 2008-01-06 14:45|| Front Page Top

#12 #11 I don't believe Pakistan can be stabilized.
Posted by: Deacon Blues

*heh* they said the same thing about Arafat. Soon enough, he was stable

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-01-06 14:54|| 2008-01-06 14:54|| Front Page Top

#13 g: Zhang never stops amazing me.

C'mon - why don't you launch into one of your classic anti-American tirades again, and remind us why it was a good idea to come to Israel's rescue in 1973?

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-01-06 22:20|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-01-06 22:20|| Front Page Top

#14 JF: When was this?

During Indira Gandhi's tenure. A former Indian Army officer said his dad's field ambulance unit was all primed to go when orders were given to stand down.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-01-06 22:26|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-01-06 22:26|| Front Page Top

#15 JF: Companies like Bechtel, IBM, Intel, HP, Microsoft all have design and development centers in India. If they are comfortable with their intellectual property being developed there, despite the sleaziness, low wage assembly and manufacture would not really be a problem.

And they have similar centers in China. But how much cutting edge, bet the company development do they have in either country? And as far as I can tell, they have more capital equipment in China than in India. The Chinese might be light-fingered, but the Indians are even more light-fingered. The attitude in both countries seems to be su equipment es mi equipment.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-01-06 22:31|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-01-06 22:31|| Front Page Top

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