>> the quality of democracy India is exporting
worry about the quality of "democracy" the US has brought to Irak, lol.
That word is now discredited in the Muddled East due to the bangup job America has done in "liberating" Iraq.
Don't think the world can handle any more generous gestures by the US if Irak is anything to go by.
You can badmouth India all you want, but after 911 it was theonly country to offer 400K troops to clean up Pakistan.
Instead, what does the USA do; play footsie and swap spit with one of the perpetrators of 911, Pakistan.
Now tell me who's into these whoring marriages of convenience - how much has the US paid Pakistan for AQ types - billions.
First of all, "high-handed" is all in your perspective. My observation was meant as a statement of opinion. I am not employed by the US Department of State, nor are my opinions official US policy.
Your dislike of America's relationship with India was based on India's cold blooded evaluation of her interests that has led to the current close relations. I don't see anything wrong with that. You do.
"Wrong?" Not really. As you've pointed out repeatedly, that is standard operating procedure with nations; they sleep with whoever does them the most good. I did not exempt the United States. Our relations with foreign governments has been a history of manipulation, exploitation, and superficial, ad hoc partnerships.
And my point being, what is wrong with that?
Not a thing. I never said there was.
worry about the quality of "democracy" the US has brought to Irak, lol.
I'm plenty worried about it. But that democracy is going to become more and more the responsibility of the Iraqis, who, if the truth were known, are growing in their capability to exercise it.
That word is now discredited in the Muddled East due to the bangup job America has done in "liberating" Iraq.
Wow. I had no idea I was talking to one of the world's foremost experts on the Middle East. You have your finger THAT close to the pulse that you know that the whole concept of democracy is now "discredited?!!" I'll have to defer to your vast expertise then. I'm a mere babe in the woods next to you and Condoleeza Rice.
Don't think the world can handle any more generous gestures by the US if Irak is anything to go by.
Well, as you say, nations look out for their OWN interests as well as those of their "friends." Our interest in Iraq also applies to Iran, North Korea, and a growing number of South American states with troubling leadership. So generosity schmenerosity. We defeat our enemies, wherever they are.
You can badmouth India all you want, but after 911 it was theonly country to offer 400K troops to clean up Pakistan.
Uh huh. And they did that for US, didn't they? There's never been any bad blood between India and Pakistan that India might be using its alliance with the US to cover, is there? India doesn't stand to benefit from mollifying Kashmir at all, does it? And India's "cleanup" of Pakistan was about as successful as you seem to think America's triumph in Iraq has been, since the madrassahs are still open, the Taliban still moves openly in the border areas, and Musharaff needs to tread carefully or he'll be the next in a long line of Indi/Paki leaders who was reincarnated before his time.
Instead, what does the USA do; play footsie and swap spit with one of the perpetrators of 911, Pakistan.
You'd need to talk to George Bush about that. He's the one who is also still doing business with the House of Saud, rulers of the homeland of 18 of the 19 9/11 hijackers. He didn't ask for my approval, by the way.
Nothing you've said in any way weakens my thesis that India and the US are allies only so long as it benefits one or the other. In this case, the benefit is economic and financial for India, and of some (dubious) military value to the United States.