[El Gato]

Too bad India has been and continues to be so closely aligned with Russia

We can blame Henry the K for that. He was the author of the original "tilt" towards Pakistan. The Indians like Russian stuff, because it's cheap, but I don't think they much like the Russians.

[Cronos]

I guess once trade with the US picks up (last time I saw we were their number one trade partner) and when the US starts selling it's superior weapons to them (remember there are still arms embargoes in place thanks to whiny Powell) the Indians will be buying good ole made in US stuff.

Since the Russians are willing to sell them weapons and the US isn't , it seems pretty darn obvious why they would want to buy Russi stuff, eh?

[illumini]

"The Indians like Russian stuff, because it's cheap, but I don't think they much like the Russians."

Yep. Go to the Moscow Airshow / www.airshow.ru / this summer and see all the third world cheapskates. The defense ministers from all over will buy there and make their backroom deals sealing their off-the-books pensions. The people in their coutries have little say, and no one seems to care if there are no spare parts.