The episode only shows that the US is determined to make United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) its stooge. With South Korea dependent on US for its survival, its foreign minister is unlikely to act independently in various crisis, first and foremost that created by North Korea in pursuit of its nuclear ambition. Shashi Tharoor, although of Indian origin was never a member nor an employee Indian Government, and an accomplished International Civil Servant, would have made a model UNSG. The fact that South Korea effectively bought votes with its money would make UNSG position even more ineffective. The loss is of world organization's, not of India, even of Tharror. However we must learn that for all the oozing of honey and sugar between India and US as sister democracies, we must be very much aware that US is a very much manipulative step sister who will use so called democratic ideals for its own selfish ends and India better be always guarded in defence of its interests while dealing with this step sister.
I absolutely agree with the writer that Tharoor has enhanced his reputation in the international arena by entering this high stakes election. Hope readers will remember how India's General Satish Nambiar resigned from the UN's Yugoslavian Peace Keeping Operations because the Yankees reportedly were reluctant to take orders from an Indian. Indeed, isn't it ironic that Tharoor was in charge of the UN Peacekeeping operations there at that time! So, if T.P. Sreenivasan is correct on who cast the veto, the villain in this latest UN saga also appears to be the same!
I am firmly of the opinion, that Political parties should be lead by politicians and ministries and the government by a professional. This is not specific to any political party. If we have people like Manmohan Singh, Arun Shouri, Suresh Prabhu, Jairam Ramesh who were professional before entering politics, occupying minister's posts, we will have excellent results. Now, after Natwar drama, which tarnished India's image, we are in a situation, where we do not have a cabinet Minister of External Affairs. It is high time now, to have a minister for this ministry who has a very good international image and standing. I do not see any candidate other than Tharoor who fits the mantle. We can use his rich experience in international organization - UN, his standing on global areana for the benefit of India. India needs a full time Foreign minister and Tharoor needs a full time job. Time has given us this opportunity. Lets have this symbiosis.
We missed a great opportunity in ST becoming the SG of UN, at a time when India is rapidly progressing in all fronts, as this would have been a shot in the arm. We should learn a lesson or two in lobbying where it matters, as we are very weak in that area. However, it should be quite interesting to watch developments shaping in Korean penninsula, in the coming months - only time will tell, what was behind electing the new South Korean SG. The killing fields will probably shift from ME to FE or both !!
I have lived in the US for the last 4 years and being politically active in india ( in a purely audience way), made me get involved ( in a purely audience way) with the US politics (the power center of the world).
I have realised one thing about India, i.e. we Indians consider it now and have for the last many years as the NEXT SUPERPOWER, but the fact NEXT means 1,2,5,10,20,100 years nobody puts a timeline.Why not??
A country like Pakistan, with nothing to boast about other than it's cricket team, squash team, some singers, hockey team in a positve light gets more mileage in the US media (the most powerful media in the world - prove me wrong!!) than our own the NEXT SUPERPOWER OF THE WORLD - INDIA.
We do not have charismatic leaders or policies. We think our product is good but have never sent it for qualification or comparision with other available products in the world. It's a good thing to think highly of our product but to turn a deaf eye towards the global standards is highly irrational, afterall we are trying to sell our product to a worldwide market. In the world the criteria of buying a product is not the same as at home. We need different judging parameters.
I beg to disagree with the author. The manner in which the Indian govt. (or at least some parts of it) went around pushing for Mr. Tharoor was overbearing, to say the least. Having staked its prestige on the outcome, to now say that we came out with enhanced prestige is clearly streching the facts. Our PM went around almost begging for support wherever he went. All the other countries may have done the same, but at least they preferred to do it in the background - after all, isn't that more in keeping with 'diplomacy'. And, the decision to push for Mr. Tharoor's candidature, clearly wasn't well thought out either - MEA was none too happy about this. Perhaps Fuddy Duddy (the PM, in case you missed it) should pay more attention to actual diplomats in such matters, instead of his coterie (on second thoughts, more likely he does not have a coterie). Mr. Tharoor ran and lost - that is perfectly acceptable. But, his days at the UN do seem numbered now. No worry, I'm sure he will get a suitable post in Fuddy Duddy's government (sorry, Sonia Gandhi's government)!
It is understood that the veto-holding UN Security Council permanent member which voted against Dr. Tharoor's election as UN Secretary-General was China and not the USA.
