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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

It's amazing what a state visit to India will do 

By TigerHawk at 3/01/2006 06:05:00 AM
George W. Bush is gearing up for a state visit to India, a country of more than a billion people that sits astride the most important ocean in the world, and that has had better relations with the United States in the present administration than at any time since its independence. India's most immediate geopolitical rival is Pakistan. We have been desperately trying to coerce Pakistan to our side in the war on Islamic jihad, and al Qaeda has been struggling to do the same. Al Qaeda's leverage is its many allies inside Pakistan's security apparatus and the popularity of the jihad among its citizenry, and our's is our ability to deliver crucial support and aid to Pakistan's government, which stays in power more by hook and crook than by dint of popular sovereignty.

Apart from offering money and arms and other kinds of support, we can threaten Pakistan by cozying up to India, our most probable ally in the region under other circumstances. Bush defended India against John Kerry's outsourcing jingoism (remember "Benedict Arnold CEOs"?) during the last presidential cycle, and he has actively engaged India at every opportunity. When Pakistan waivers in the war on al Qaeda, the United States Air Force conducts war games with the Indian Air Force.

It should not surprise us, therefore, that a few days before George W. Bush visits India, Pakistan rolls up a bunch of jihadi. We don't care why it happens, I suppose. Only that it does.

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4 Comments:

By Anonymous Anonymous, at Wed Mar 01, 03:12:00 PM:

Great points, TigerHawk.

But I was puzzled by this sentence: "When Pakistan waivers in the war on al Qaeda, the United States Air Force conducts war games with the Indian Air Force."

Don't you mean, "When Pakistan wavers..." ? Otherwise, I get mind-pictures of turbaned officials signing documents suspending certain laws regarding the war against al Qaeda... which they may in fact be doing, I don't know :-)  

By Blogger Lanky_Bastard, at Wed Mar 01, 03:36:00 PM:

You mean our Pakistan allies aren't already doing their utmost? Still, it is a pretty sophisticated move.

Ironic doing war games with the Indian Air Force though. After all, if the poo hits the fan, the Indians will be up against the F-16s we sold Pakistan. Do we sell fighters to India too?  

By Blogger TigerHawk, at Wed Mar 01, 06:35:00 PM:

Steve, thanks for the eagle-eyed proofreading!

Lanky - not where I can check the facts, but I believe we sell fighters to india, too, and with somewhat better optional equipment.  

By Blogger Lanky_Bastard, at Thu Mar 02, 02:03:00 PM:

This new Karachi bombing is another direct effect, though who wins and loses in that deal is beyond me. (though certainly the victims lose)  

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