by Starman » Sun Jul 17, 2005 3:19 am
Americans for the most part remain blithely ignorant of the US's games, exploitation, manipulation and betrayal of Pakistan's peoples not just for the US's past, present and future agenda in Afghanistan but also with India. It's nothing but utterly appalling, showing how thoroughly bankrupt American leadership is, fixated on zero-sum games with the global elites as the only 'winner'.<br><br>Re: US's unrelenting and unqualified support for Pakistan's Military Dictatorship -- The US has exercised enormous influence on Pakistan's politics and economy through the CIAs cultivated association with Pahistan's secret service (ISI) and inducement via substantial military aid. Yet, there's almost a total news-block in the mainstream media on discussing this most unequal relationship or the incongruity of the US ignoring Pakistan's terrorist incursions on India and its legacy of religious extremism and nuclear proliferation through selling nuclear weapons technology, plans and equipment to potentially unstable, terrorist regimes (ie., North Korea). US's 'alliance' with Pakistan has evidently resulted in a skewed regional balance-of-power in which Pakistan's belligerant posturing and fomenting two decades of terrorism (with 40,000 Indian victims) and the making of nuclear threats is tacitly accomodated by the US as a form of gratitude for its 'help' in the War on Terror -- which is SO perverse considering Pakistan's role via the ISI as a CIA Middleman directing Afghan Taliban and AlQaeda terrorism.<br><br>Following comments reveal typical Indians' frustration and dissapointment over the US's duplicious policies appeasing Pakistan's reckless posturing while positioning itself as a 'natural' democratic ally with India -- another example of the Bush neocon's atrocious bungling of foreign policy and diplomacy. Thanks Bush! Pakistan's cultural climate encouraging rote-learning of the Koran in extremist Madrassa academies is a chilly foreboding of Pakistan's leaning towards religious extremism as a way to overcome its sense of collective inferiority as conditionally dependant on the US's political largesse -- no doubt a cultural legacy, a reliance on violence which the US has deliberately cultivated as part of its Strategy of Tension for the region. No wonder India has a deep and abiding distrust of the US -- since US self-serving duplicity and double standards is a well-established theme.<br>Starman<br><br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://members.tripod.com/~INDIA_RESOURCE/IndiaUS.html">members.tripod.com/~INDIA...diaUS.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>... most American governments have propped up Pakistan's military dictators against democratic India, and against democratic forces within Pakistan. If India and the US were truly "natural allies" (aligned due to a real and verifiable concern for democracy as some like to mindlessly assert), it is odd how the US has shown no inclination towards putting any type of sanction or constraint on the military administration in Pakistan. The US State Department has studiously ignored widespread evidence of electoral rigging and suppression of democratic rights in Pakistan, and the US Pentagon has been busy selling Pakistan's military leaders new attack helicopters, the latest in military transport planes, and recently developed anti-missile systems. And all of this has taken place without any perceptible retreat in the hostile stand of the Musharraf regime. <br><br>So blatant was the hypocrisy of the US establishment that on May 23, 2002, E Jayakrishnan (New Delhi, Sify News) was compelled to note: "Amidst the gathering war clouds in the sub-continent, there is something India and Pakistan agree on – the duplicity of the United States." <br><br>No other headline could have summarized the situation more candidly, and many Indians in their comments on the websites of newspapers such as the Times of India and the Hindustan Times reiterated their disgust, anger and disappointment with the US. <br><br>One reader wrote: "We are in fact decades behind in our development because of the proxy war (initiated by Pakistan) and our patient and unaggressive means to curb Pakistan's malicious intentions. But all that the so called "international community" intends doing is to trick and trip India each time." <br><br>Disbelief and distrust of statements issued by American officials ran high, one reader observed: "It is quite evident that America has double standards on the India-Pakistan issue, even though they are trying their level best to make others believe that they are very much against a war in the region" <br><br>Another suggested: "We should not believe the Americans any more. All the activities against India have been encouraged by them..." <br><br>Others have been extremely suspicious of America's "war on terrorism": "The American Agenda has never been clear or transparent. As a superpower it gives the impression that it will act as it pleases. We wonder if they even have a long term plan to prevent terrorism." Wondering why the US administration has studiously avoided blaming Pakistan for having links with the terrorist groups even after the arrest of several active terrorists on Pakistani soil, one reader wrote: "....what could stop one from thinking that Pakistan has some hold over Washington, regarding some sins which both might have committed jointly...?? <br><br>Particularly galling was how US officials looked the other way, or tacitly endorsed Pakistan's nuclear blackmail against India. <br><br>A May 31 Hindustan Times news story read as follows: <br><br>India on Thursday termed as "yet another manifestation of loose talk" by Pakistan threatening to use nuclear weapons even if India stuck to conventional weapons in a conflict and said Islamabad was prepared to stoop to any depth in order to capitalise on the so called "nuclear scare." <br>Reacting to the statement made by Pakistani Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram, spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry told reporters here "this is yet another manifestation of loose talk and irresposible statements emanating from Pakistan with reference to the current situation. <br><br>"You contrast that with the responsibility that India has constantly displayed. I think the world should draw appropriate inferences from this contrast," she said.<br><br>What this story didn't mention was how, not a single senior official in the US administration called for sanctions against Pakistan for making nuclear threats against India - there were no calls for destroying Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, or even setting up any type of inspection regime to curtail Pakistan's weapons program. But on the web, on discussion boards and e-mail lists, this was brought up repeatedly. <br><br>One poster commented as follows: "Certainly the US Govt. has played a dubious role in this crisis. They have been telling the world one thing and acting differently .To them an "American's Life" is more precious than other nations. It is especially sad to note that neither the US Govt. nor the US media have publicly opposed this irresponsible public announcement (concerning Pakistan's threat of using nuclear weapons against India). What they did instead was to create panic amongst those of the international community living in India and Pakistan and advised them to leave these two countries. This shows how the US Govt. failed miserably to diffuse tensions in this region and allowed the Pakistani Govt. to make their uncivilized gestures of a nuclear threat." <br><br>On May 31, the Times of India ran the following news report: "US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said on Friday that war between India and Pakistan would be devastating and also set back much improved relations between Washington and the South Asian foes."<br><br>In response, a reader commented: "Wars are always devastating. But how long must India suffer a proxy war. By threatening to use nuclear weapons, Pakistan is blackmailing the whole world. The so called world leaders and policemen should end their double speak and rein in Pakistan."<br><br>One commentator even alluded to the possibility of the US covertly encouraging Pakistan's nuclear blackmail against India: "I agree with the possibility of US colluding with Pakistan to issue a mock threat of use of the Nuclear bomb. I think we all might recollect how Pakistan constantly tried to remind the USA that the "help" they were giving to Washington in their war against terror, should not go unrewarded. There does appear to be a strong likelihood that this may be one of the rewards from Washington. Secondly, the hypocrisy of the Western Media in describing the terrorists operating in the Kashmir Valley as "what India calls as terrorists", is also appalling. Aren't they implying that there is a possibility that these may not be terrorists?? Whose certificate are they awaiting before they drop the phrase "what India calls"?? The double standards are blatantly apparent, even to a blind man. So when some people kill over 3000 people at one stroke, it can qualify as "terror" (referring to 9/11) but when others kill over 40,000 Indians over a period of two decades, then it isn't "terror"???"<br>. . .<br>Perceptive Indians have also noted the stark contrast in US/British attitudes towards Iraq. (Unlike Pakistan's military dictators, Iraq's leaders have been trying hard to make peace with their neighbors. And unlike Pakistan's military (which is known to possess nuclear weapons, and has even threatened to use them against India), Iraq has not only denied possessing nuclear weapons or the ability to deliver them, it has never made any nuclear threats against any nation. Yet, it is Iraq that is now being viciously targeted for supposedly being a "threat" to peace and regional stability.)<br><br>On June 8, in response to a Times of India story that read: <br><br>"Britain will do everything it can to help India and Pakistan avert war, but there are no plans yet to send British troops to Kashmir, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said Saturday.", a reader commented: "This is the height of arrogance and absurdity from UK. How can UK even consider any 'options' until consent is given by India? Do they think that J&K is their ancestral property? Meanwhile it would be better if they use their mediation skills in trying to persuade Bush & Blair to desist from attacking Iraq! Have they considered dialogue with Saddam?" <br>Some also noted the contrast in US attitudes towards Israel and India: "Dubya recently said Israel has a right to self defense when he met with PM Sharon, India doesn't....?"<br><br>On June 12, in response to a story alluding to possible US intervention to bring about "peace" between India and Pakistan, there were several sharply hostile responses: <br>One reader wrote: "Double dealers galore would about sum up the phantom of US Governance. The current administration itself is ripe with double dealing... International Criminal Court, Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Biological weapons, Kyoto, Venezuela are but a few examples. The cancer of US foreign policy in the last 50 years spreads...The MiddleEast, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Will it claim India next? Yes if we bring them in...."<br><br>Another observed: "We know US is a friend to its geo-political interests and nothing else. Moreover, militancy in Kashmir is the direct result of US's fostering of the Mujahideen for its war on the erstwhile USSR. Despite recent public pronouncements favourable to India, the ground reality has not changed. Whatever the US may say in private or public, we see the same prescription being handed down...Lastly, it is a matter of principle which perhaps angers me most—on what basis can India and Pakistan be equated on the issue of terror (as this is part of the war on terror)? There has not been a single Indian terrorist in the world." <br><br>Another reader pointed to how the US was using Pakistan against India: "The US has been playing this game for long - not allowing nations that are on the growth path to grow, by distracting them using rogue neighbours i.e. Pakistan." Yet another observed: "Western powers would like to see India remain a weak nation - give it small successes but big losses. Western powers would like to ensure that India and Pakistan remain their staple customers for their weapons. The past clearly shows that US has always sided with dictators, because they are more amenable to unreasonable demands." <br><br>One reader noted quite succinctly: "Looks like the East India Company is coming back." <br><br>Reacting to a June 12 news report: "India and United States on Wednesday discussed the possibility of deployment of foreign forces to monitor the Line of Control (LoC) but no conclusion was reached", one outraged reader asked: "Are the Indian forces so incompetent that we need foreign forces to watch our border?" <br><br>Another wrote: "Our sovereignty, bravery and courage in adversity have never been in doubt. We are capable of safeguarding our territory from terror exported by our neighbours. We do not need soldiers who do not have the courage to face an enemy in battle to help us on our territory. The Americans can fire advanced missiles from thousands of miles and cause deaths of civilians but never in Iraq or Afghanistan did they fight face to face with the enemy. They simply lack the guts. Keep them out of Indian territory. Now and forever." <br><br>Yet another wrote in shock and disbelief: "Even an offer to help India with US troops, is an insult to Indians soldiers. Nobody in the world has the training and capability to fight in such a hostile terrain as does India. The Indian army has 50 years experience in such warfare. No foreign soldiers should be ever allowed on Indian soil. I cannot believe that Indian government even discussed this matter." <br><br>And another: How we can trust US for this purpose who has been helping Pakistan for many long years for supporting terrorism. We should not forget that Al-Qaeda is a product of America itself.....from history it is very clear that when America occupies any base it hardly ever leaves. Pressure from USA forces us to keep our eyes shut."<br><br>On several occasions, there have been angry comments against India's political leaders and journalists featured in India's English language press who have not shown the ability to resist US machinations in the region. India's political leaders have been described as "weak" and "spineless". One response read: "The Govt. of India has probably called up the White House to ask them how India should react. It seems that the army is controlled from Washington rather than from Delhi. The Govt. will probably sign another contract with Israel and the English newspapers in India will preach peace against all odds. No Sir, we won't bite. Not without the permission from the USA." <br><br>Others expressed dissatisfaction with India's pro US political class observing that "....the greed of our politicians for petty personal power at all costs stands between the dire need in India for a strong cohesive response against Pakistan's acts of terror and US needling." <br><br>Several expressed skepticism over the Indian government's approach to get the US to rein in Pakistan or declare it a "terrorist state": "But Great Advani: Is your statement not contrary with your second statement "US should declare Pakistan a terrorist state". Does your statement not smell of dependence?" In a similar vein, another reader wrote: "Dear Mr. Advani... why do we look at the Americans for inspiration (or permission...) to solve a problem in our backyard..."<br> <p></p><i></i>