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Ofcourse, they will more people wanting to attend than seats available. Sarah Palin has generated quite a bit of interest in India.

Its starting ... I got some music and some announcer saying its delayed by 11mins late.

Aging Sukhois? Are you kidding? Su-30MKI is still and will be the mainstay of India Air Force for next 2 decades. It is still the most dominant fighter aircraft in our part of the world. MMRCA is not to replace Sukhois but to supplement them. Their role is to replace that of Mig-21 and go beyond it. Indian developed LCA Tejas will be the real replacement of Mig-21 while MMRCA ones are supposed to supplement IAF’s capabilities to fight a dual-war (China and Pakistan at the same time) incase if it were to ever happen.

The best part of this development is that the radars used in detecting and tracking the enemy missiles are a mix of Indian and Israeli radars. Goes to show what cooperation between two countries oppressed by islamic terror can do! Israelis have been India’s all-weather friends for a while now, starting with the Kargil War in 1999. Russia, which used to perform this role in pre-2000 era, is slowing declining while India is looking more westwards for its defense and strategic ties.

That is true. The armed forces usually exercise the option of followup orders in pretty much every contract. There is a reason behind it. Things move very slowly in the Govt of India especially in the Ministry of Defense. For example, the go-ahead from Cabinet for this deal was given in 2002-03. Yet, the contract is only likely to be signed in 2013-14 if we are lucky. So, the armed forces just go with the followup orders as the process for that is much faster and they can get their resources faster.

Yep!

What a great ally.

I sure am glad we bought all that military equipment (more than $2bn in the last year alone and will buying billions more soon), cross-trained soldiers with a country (US) that is playing footsie with a totalitarian state (pakistan) hellbent on destroying our country (India).

See how easily US fits the same profile for India?

May I ask how many billions US has sent in military aid to pakistan in last decade since 9/11 and how many more billions it has pledged to send to a terrorist state that not only sends savage killers like those involved Mumbai 26/11 attacks but also kills US/NATO soldiers in Afganistan? Selling F-16s in the name of war on terror is not just short-sighted but outright foolish. Before you point fingers at others, look what your country is doing!

Atleast Russia is not a failed state that supports terrorism worldwide while pakistan is exactly that. We (Indians) can sleep at night peacefully thinking we are not funding a terrorist state that produces terrorists that killed hundreds of innocent people around the world. Can you?

PAKISTAN IS A US ALLY! Say it proudly, will ya! :roll eyes:

Foreign diplomats are above citizens. In this case, they are not subject to searches because they have diplomatic immunity. This is to protect them from harassment by Intelligence agencies of host nations. US diplomats in India are accorded this privilege and they do not go through security search at airports when they present diplomatic passports. Folks might feel that this is a special treatment. It might be but its required by the job these folks perform.

Absolutely true. There is not much difference between islamic fundamentalism and fascism. History has time and again showed us fascism and communism will lead to bloodshed. Its ingrained in these movements. The Mumbai attack is orchestrated by such groups involved in such movements. Infact, read up on Karachi project. Its alarming on how ISI, pukes’ rogue intelligence agency is planning to spread terror in India. I hope the Indian govt. is braced for this.

Economic, yes, the west has become weaker. But I would not call it defunct. That is foolish. If the west stops trading, BRIC will be bankrupt too just as the west would be. As for calling West culturally and politically defunct, those are the words of a true nutjob. It would be dumb for us to give this man’s words too much attention and thought. The West has the best political and cultural freedoms especially one that allows individuals to choose their destiny unlike fascist islamic countries that suppress their women and torture their populations if they raise their voice against dictatorial rule. This makes it all the more important for Americans to raise their voice against TSA which is acting like a runaway organization with no oversight and treats itself above US Constitution.

I agree with you on those points.

Oh, hum. Close a few call centers or pass legislation restricting Indian technology services to the US and see what happens. Come on, we're better than this. We've become a mutually dependent world. You now sound like this wonderfully smart and literate Mexican Zapatista illegal alien woman from Chiapas living and working in Chicago, screen name Lupita, I once had the joy of exchanging messages with. Yeah, we're (the U.S.) in a sorry state due to the burden of our foreign debt, but without us, who would step in with the power and the knowledge to selflessly save lives anywhere a natural catastrophe happens? China? Russia? Iran? Venesuela? India? Who would step up to take our place? Thank you, ever so much, for this most excellent post.

When I said US is not strong anymore as it used to be, I did not mean that US doesn't have the heart to rescue and send aid when natural disasters strike nor that it doesn't have the intervention powers. I meant in the way that US is not economically strong anymore. Military might or helping nature can only get you so far in this world. Its all about money. As a economic giant, US was able to be in a position to arm-twist other countries earlier. Today, China openly defies it. Russia doesn't even give a damn anymore to what US says. With their abundant oil resources, they can damn well do what they want. China-lackeys like North Korea openly threaten US allies. That leaves US with allies like UK, Australia, India and Japan to defend and sustain the free world. All these 4 countries have in last 2 years voiced concern about deteriorating relations with US. Now, we see this happening with India. Could have this been avoided? Did US Press Secretary needed act like goon in Delhi especially at a time when Pres. Obama is there to make more trade deals? Where was his discretion and diplomacy? Believe me, this actions will have repercussions especially when the bureaucratic community in India is offended. More than politicians, these parasites (yes, I hate these guys) hold more power in terms of formulating policies for the govt. Politicians come and go every 5 years in India, bureaucrats stay forever.

She better be damn well concerned. Diplomatic immunity is not something to take lightly. Dumb-asses at TSA think they can violate international treaties signed and ratified by US Congress! Guess what, the next time US Ambassador travels in India, he will have sweaty Indian palms up his behind. Let see how well that goes down with US govt and its people. TSA can shove its policy of ‘diplomats are not exempt’ with this big clueless behind. Because diplomatic immunity is a part of US law. Yes, it seems elitist to give diplomats a free pass through but there is a reason for this. Because its reciprocated by other countries as well. If TSA keeps up this crap for long and starts offending allies or hostile countries, guess what, US diplomats will start getting the same treatment in their countries of posting. Lets guess how many state dept officials want the diplomatic posting to China or Russia after one of theirs is ‘handled’ by TSA here!

Bad for Continental Airlines. It probably lost out on business in India for sure. These kind of things are not forgotten easily by bureaucrats or businessmen. So, next time Continental needs some ports at the congested Indian airports, they will get shafted. By the way, the Indian Parliament was right in throwing a ‘hissy’ fit. Imagine President Clinton or Bush being subjected to such frisking. Do you think your state department will keep quiet? A former president being frisked by a foreign security personnel in his own country. Where would you hear that happen?

US officials boss around their counterparts in other countries when their leaders visit those places. The recent example is the pathetic behavior of Press Secretary threatening and abusing Indian officials for not allowing a few American reporters into a meeting between Pres. Obama and the Prime Minister in Delhi. Diplomacy is a delicate game. US officials are known and are used to using strong arm tactics even with their allied countries. But US is not a strong country anymore like it used to be. So, its time they start learning diplomacy or start losing business.

I disagree! India turned to US for help during the 1962 war with China. So, that means we were pro-US pre-Indira Gandhi. But things changed when pukes got US assistance (blame that wretched Nixon and Kissinger for this) when they are performing genocide in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). We had no choice but to attack pukes to stop killing of millions of Hindus.

It was USSR that moved nearly 41 divisions onto Chinese borders to stop China from interfering in Indo-Pak war of 1971. What did US do? It sent its seventh fleet to intimidate us. But by the time seventh fleet arrived, the war was already won and pukes were given a bloody nose. Alas, if only Nixon was impeached earlier...

BTW you can also blame Nixon for the rise of China - which is a bigger headache to the world than pukes.

No, its not.

Here is a definition from Webster:

Definition of STROKE
transitive verb
1: to rub gently in one direction; also : caress
2: to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stroke

US, due to its continued support and aid to pakistani military, always reminds me of that old saw about triumph of hope over experience.

It’s amazing that they are continuing with plans to fund the pakistani military even when they clearly know pakistan supports and arms the taliban.

Seriously, how weird is that?

That’s not right! Those are Indian soldiers on patrol in Kashmir fighting against islamic terrorism. Its really unfair to use pics of troops in your tirade against outsourcing. As an Indian and supporter of troops, I take offense to that pic.

The blood of American soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan is on the hands of bureaucrats in State dept. I say this because time and again its these pro-pakistani suckers that have been pushing the administration’s policy of supporting pakistan. These folks are still in the cold war mindset and never seem to come out of it. In the meantime, US military is paying the price for being pushed into a war with insufficient manpower and resources.

150k troops is not enough for a counter-insurgency type war. It may work for a invasion-type war but not CI. Atleast half a million boots on ground are required if NATO is serious about this war. Only way to achieve this is to bring in China and India. But alas, all we see is arrogance of US govt which time and again snubbed India when it comes to Afghanistan issue. Ask India if you want to know how to fight a CI war. 700k troops in Kashmir, 20+ yrs and finally we see some peace in Kashmir.

So, if bambi thinks he can do this with just 150k troops and by July 2011, he is smoking something strong!

This is not just about rejecting visas to Army and Intelligence officers, they also denied a tourist visa to a retired trooper of BSF (Border Security Force) who has his daughter in Canada and wanted to visit her. The Canadian official who issued the rejection also made the following comments:

"Earlier, in a diplomatic blunder, the High Commission called the BSF a "notoriously violent force" that engaged in "systematic torture". The High Commission, while denying visa to Fateh Singh Pandher, a retired constable of BSF, told him that his visa application was "inadmissible" as he had served in a force that engaged in "systematic attacks on civilians". Source

What Canada does not understand is that India is not surround by all-weather and peaceful allies like US. Its surrounded the most rabid and destructive countries on earth - Pakistan and China.

Further, if the anti-terrorist duties of Indian armed forces in Kashmir are 'systematic attacks on civilians' and 'systemic torture', so are actions of Canadian and US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Screw you, Canada!

Yep. The entire Indian GDP is driven by outsourced American jobs. Jobs which only Americans are 'entitled' to.

BTW, here is a tidbit about Indian economy that might improve your 'vast' knowledge:

The unemployed or the employable population in India is 300 million (770 million people are below 35 years of age) but only 45 million have actually registered themselves with the employment offices. Of all the new employment generated, 97 per cent are in the unorganised sector. Only one per cent are taken in new government jobs and two per cent are taken in the organised sector. Even out of our 430 million workforce, 94 per cent work in the unorganised sector, 18 million people work for the central and the state government and another nine million work in the private organised sector. And what a surprise, all the labour laws are made to protect only this 27 million of the Indian population.

Source

It would be foolish for you to think that Indian govt will watch helplessly when 100 million of its peasants start revolting. No democratically elected govt can ignore such a big effect. Unlike China, those 100 million farmers will vote the govt out and make the new govt fight this!

As for your comments on military capabilities, you believe too much in Chinese capabilities and underestimate India. Look up what SFF unit of Indian Army is! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Frontier_Force)

Don’t mistake our patience for weakness.