US and India has nothing in common is a complete truth. But my experience is exactly other way round. India is closed towards diversity, fractured in social, cultural, political lines and full of prejudice. We are biggest racists on earth, ready to discriminate given a slightest chance. The diversity in India is not appreciated. We proud of wrong things: sometimes in brighter skin colors, better nose and better Hindi accent. In US, diversity is valued and continuously assimilated(except by some red necks who are loosers). It does not take George W. to tell Indians that we have done great with respect to diversity. What he did not tell is it will take a new generation to promote the fact that diversity is good for India. It is not gults and mallus and bongs and gujju's fighting, elbowing each other and wasting time in proving that they are superior in some hard to prove way. It is good if we make more friends who are diverse and try to learn about others. This is an American culture and it will win for America hands down in the long run, inspite of all the misgovernance that the US has seen, just like India: similar in catch phrases but entirely different in the ground level.
It is unfortunate to read such immature views of Rajeev Srinivasan. India should not believe in something of which it has been a victim of--divide and rule. Instead, we should always look for the win-win-win.. solutions and become a torch bearer of the peace in the world, in our true heritage and tradition. Even the message of Lord Krishna to Arjun in Gita was that of a unified existence within the Lord\'s Absolute God-Consciousness!
Constructive coollaboration, nor destructive competition, is the need of the fast changing and globally interdependent nations of the world.
Finally, someone who has put on paper what I have been thinking for a long time. India is an upcoming power and we need to start thinking of ourselves as such. US are liberal with sanctions and we need to look at other avenues also. Countries now want to invest in India and we can use it as a bargaining chip. The example of Air India and Mulford is perfect. Chances are they dangled the carrot in front to get a vote against Iran. What is to stop them from now saying Congress did not approve the deal? It will take a while for them to fully support us as we are a fairly new "ally" to them. The politicians need to keep their options open and not ignore other countries vying for our business also, just because US is suddenly showing interest. What is to say that when the next president is elected, he will disagree with all that has transpired to date? Same may happen with other countries also, so I feel it is important to see how they have historically behaved towards us to get an idea of how they will continue to behave. We will become dependent on the US for parts and accessories and if they put an embargo or sanction against us, what then? POLITICIANS, KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN.
The following caption should be written on bill boards around the country: Voltaire said; 'I am convinced that everything has come down to us from the banks of the Ganges, astronomy, astrology, metempsychosis'. Let us join togather to give more & more to the world.
France has always been keen on supplying n-reactors to India but they cannot/will not - even now - because of their NSG membership. Only the US has enough clout in NSG to overturn its guidelines (by making an exception for India) and allow its member countries (e.g. Fr and russia) to sell these reactors. As for Japan - in the last NSG meeting (closed) they were the most vociferous in opposing the exceptions for India although they are polite and make the right noises (in public). Any westinghouse reactors that India might decide to buy in the future wd be a simple quid pro quo for this irreplaceable US support. It does not rule out buying from others of course - but only after the deal with US goes through.
