Cancellation of Gates'' India visit a missed opportunity:US

[Renegade]

For our ministers local politics is always above national interest. There is nothing new in it. Antony may forgot that he is the defence minister of India rather a congress politician from Kerala.

Antony avoided him because he was coming to lobby for the MMRCA deal. From what i have read, he was not originally supposed to come with Hillary Clinton, but decided to, given that GoI is in the process of making a decision on the deal, so that he could lobby in favor of American companies.

So the assembly elections in Kerala served as a great excuse to avoid Gates. This also goes on to show the level of confidence that India has in itself these days - the Americans ask us to sign CISMOA we don't & now we avoid Gates. That's something.

 

[misterme2]

Antony avoided him because he was coming to lobby for the MMRCA deal. From what i have read, he was not originally supposed to come with Hillary Clinton, but decided to, given that GoI is in the process of making a decision on the deal, so that he could lobby in favor of American companies.

So the assembly elections in Kerala served as a great excuse to avoid Gates. This also goes on to show the level of confidence that India has in itself these days - the Americans ask us to sign CISMOA we don't & now we avoid Gates. That's something.

Over Confidence is what led empires to fall apart! lets not get too ahead of ourselves, shall we? India need sot do what is best in its interest. As far as tech is concerned sure there may be better offers, but aligning with the US is beneficial in the long run....for India....You can bet China and Pakistan wont attack India and it will give us time to develop our resources wonderfully. The key is not to get complacent once we align ourselves with the US. It's already happening....and Russia keeps on screwing us with over cost escalations. They don't see as a friend just a CASH COW..

 

[Renegade]

Over Confidence is what led empires to fall apart! lets not get too ahead of ourselves, shall we? India need sot do what is best in its interest. As far as tech is concerned sure there may be better offers, but aligning with the US is beneficial in the long run....for India....You can bet China and Pakistan wont attack India and it will give us time to develop our resources wonderfully. The key is not to get complacent once we align ourselves with the US. It's already happening....and Russia keeps on screwing us with over cost escalations. They don't see as a friend just a CASH COW..

Firstly, we are not an empire & neither are we overconfident. the word i used was confident. and by not toeing the American line on everything we are doing what in our best interest.

Secondly, we have never been in the business of building military alliances. Indias commitment to NAM should be reason enough for the US to understand that we dont believe in aligning. we have immense respect for the US, be that as it may be, milirary alingment is a far cry.

Lastly, Americas track record as a friend is not all that great, just look at Pakistan. also we havent forgotten the impact of American sanctions on us.

The Russians may have hiped the price in a few defence deals, but weignted against their reliablity & their ability to supply the latest equipment, their track record is far more relaible.

 

[Kinetic]

Antony avoided him because he was coming to lobby for the MMRCA deal. From what i have read, he was not originally supposed to come with Hillary Clinton, but decided to, given that GoI is in the process of making a decision on the deal, so that he could lobby in favor of American companies.

So the assembly elections in Kerala served as a great excuse to avoid Gates. This also goes on to show the level of confidence that India has in itself these days - the Americans ask us to sign CISMOA we don't & now we avoid Gates. That's something.

Thats certainly might and should not be the reason for canceling the meeting. There is lobbying and pressures from all sides including US but India has enough strength to withstand them as we did earlier. So thats not the reason. As Antony mentioned during AI-2011, the MRCA will be purely technical and IAF's requirements basis not based on any political or economic leverages.

 

[President Camacho]

Officials said Gates, who was keen to travel to New Delhi even in midst of the political unrest in the Middle East, is believed to express his disappointment over the cancellation of the visit.

Makes one wonder... what is the missed opportunity all about? No one made such quick/emergent trips after the Mumbai attacks. No one showed such 'disappointment' at the delay of any such trips either. What is so much more important in these times when economic/military threats to India/US are not any different from other times? Mr. Gates' disappointment will make anyone wonder about the transparency in MRCA deals. Especially when it is has been widely reported that finalization of tenders will take place in late April this year.

 

[Renegade]

Thats certainly might and should not be the reason for canceling the meeting. There is lobbying and pressures from all sides including US but India has enough strength to withstand them as we did earlier. So thats not the reason. As Antony mentioned during AI-2011, the MRCA will be purely technical and IAF's requirements basis not based on any political or economic leverages.

Maybe Antony wanted to send a strong message, that such high handed lobbying is not welcome. The Gates visit was also sudden, not something that was planned well in advance. Hillary was coming & Gates decided to piggyback. Maybe that's why Antony decided to skip it after all.

 

[shaktiman2010]

Take a chill-pill guys. US is trying to play hardball and Indians know how to deal with that. The sky will not fall just because Mr.Gates is yellow and red in his pants.

And misterme2,

my dear friend, please drink cola from your coconut and watch the game. Why worry? have curry.

 

[shaktiman2010]

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[angeldemon_007]

Over Confidence is what led empires to fall apart! lets not get too ahead of ourselves, shall we? India need sot do what is best in its interest. As far as tech is concerned sure there may be better offers, but aligning with the US is beneficial in the long run....for India....You can bet China and Pakistan wont attack India and it will give us time to develop our resources wonderfully. The key is not to get complacent once we align ourselves with the US. It's already happening....and Russia keeps on screwing us with over cost escalations. They don't see as a friend just a CASH COW..

Look some statements here are too strong and thats because of emotions but its not exactly the GOI's opinion. India really cares about US friendship. But should our friendship be effected by a single deal ?/ If thats true then how can we define this as a friendship ?? Look if you even lose, i am sure GOI will compensate this loss in one or the other way.

As far as the decision of Antony was concerned, it was his own decision. Not to mention you cannot ignore what was the reason. If Antony would have missed the tour of his constituency, he would not be a member of parliament in the future.