PM Singh's U.S visit

[StealthSniper]

President Obama and Prime Minister Singh Press Conference

Gives a little insight about what our Prime Minister and the President talked about:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z037MffCgms&feature=channel

 

[Daredevil]

More pictures and videos here

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/november-2009-photo-day

 

[..Azad]

Solacement in Obama's 'namaste'

India will have to fight its own battles. It cannot expect the US to help us fight them, argues Tarun Vijay.

Two kinds of people are complaining about Barack Obama's Asia tour. One, those Americans who have been seeing America in the George W Bush mould for too long. They get depressed about a placid president and hence describing his Asia visit as 'timid' or too yielding to China.

They would have loved an Obama chiding the Chinese and demanding a human rights commission on Tibet. Obama didn't oblige them. He needed a facelift for the US and tried his best.

In the second category of people, we stand out brightly. We like others to do our unfinished jobs. It is not amazing to see Indian cry babies complaining too much that Obama didn't do enough for us. We forget he is the president of the United States and his first and foremost duty is to serve her interest and not ours.

And he did well for the US in his first Asia tour that took him to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea in nine days -- with the maximum time being spent in China, the Asian superpower who spoke to the White House with an erect spine and received a warm hug.

In fact, Obama is the first US president after a long time who presented the image of an amiable, friendly and accessible head of a superpower that had otherwise become synonymous with crude diplomacy laced with military adventurism during the Bush era.

In Japan Obama won a standing ovation when he presented his Pacific connection story -- a very personal and a touching one indeed. And in China his descent from Air Force One alone holding an umbrella amidst Shanghai's first rains won him instant fans.

If Obama has won another friend for Washington, why should we complain if our leaders are on a spree to lose all and bend backwards for an audience with a queen or an alien benefactor?

Americans are a patriotic people who elect leaders with a spine, never compromising national security and always honouring their security forces.

If we don't do that, should we be complaining about it to the White House? Or should we set our own house right?

Here is a nation that doesn't honour its soldiers and keeps negotiating with traitors. We are a State that doesn't care about its farmers till they block Delhi's [ Images ] roads. We get enmeshed in hot money pursuits stashed in places like Laos and Liberia, and no one believes the culprit will ever get punished.

Who knows if a Koda or a Reddy will get 20 plus MPs in the next election and be inducted as the Cabinet minister in charge of internal security?

We kow-tow disoriented before the most horrendous of jihad sponsors and keep inviting murderers for talks and talks and then again talks for decades without resolving the main issues of contention.

Then, one fine morning, when we see the leader of a strong nation discussing our problems with his counterpart, we feel oh, why has he not helped us solve our problems with China? And with Pakistan? And while we have signed a nuke deal, why should it put pressure on us to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty too?

The US did what it did because that is what it thought was good for it. Obama is not ruling the US to ensure India benefits. Is that clear?

And look how our leaders, the great, patriotic, democratic representatives of this land behave. Here is a 'certificate, which I quote from a national daily: 'Vice-chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal P K Barbora, said, "Politicians cutting across party lines are upsetting armed forces modernisation and procurement programmes." He further added, "The fact remains that the IAF's fleet of fighter aircraft is getting depleted. The navy's submarine strength is dwindling and the army has not added a new gun to its heavy artillery in more than 20 years. The weapons, ammunition and systems with the armed forces are getting outdated faster than the government is able to replace them. Irresponsible politics over the years, sometimes when a party is in government or sometimes when it is in the Opposition -- it has all along been seen that whenever the government of the day clears something, the Opposition says no. This badly impinges (on the preparedness) of the defence (forces)," he said.'

Do we need more to complain to Obama?

Now that our prime minister is in the US, guess what the 'biggest' secret that the wizards of the PM's media advisors doled out just before Dr Singh left for the US was. Some gems from a news agency report: 'As the silence fuelled speculation, the White House finally broke the silence to let out the closely guarded secret saying that the dinner would be held under the massive tent instead of the ornate state dining room. The tent option has been picked up as the guest list mushroomed and instead of 120 which the ornate room can accommodate, the Obamas are inviting close to 400 people for their first state dinner on November 24.'

That's all we need. Khana peena aur ghoomna (food, drink and travel). Be happy that Obama is giving a lavish dinner to not just 120, but to 400 of all the important, leading Indian lights of American life. Is that a mean achievement?

The US and China know what they want. China made the US accept its significant role in Asia, turned India into an area to be watched, controlled and helped to stay calm while remaining friendliest with Pakistan.

Both the US and China do not recognise Kashmir as a part of India. They look at the area as an unsettled matter, help Pakistan with dollars and military help, turn a blind eye towards Pakistan using their arms and grants against us, have done nothing to help India post 26/11, have refrained to tell Islamabad to stop its patronage to anti-India elements.

One of them attacked India in 1962; the other had remained a silent spectator then. Even so our analysts and Washington watchers feel at least now the US should help us. Wow!

When we are left to our own, we do better.

Obama postponed his meeting with the Dalai Lama before his China visit. We stood firm and allowed the Dalai Lama to go to Arunachal Pradesh. We trusted the US, inked a controversial nuke deal and hence invited China's bitter reaction expressed through its Arunachal raga, almost reminding of a cold war. The US did not even smile as if this doesn't concern it. And naturally so. Why should our spondylitis make the US lie low?

We have got to deal with the US on our own strength and de-link relations with China from Washington and the Dalai Lama. If we have to save Arunachal, it would be done on the shoulders of leaders in Delhi who have a spine and a will to raise the military strength to a winnable level. Not that we have to increase the numbers of fighter jets and submarines and nuke bombs to what Beijing possess.

Wars are not won by exchanging lists, but by the fierce resolve to destroy the enemy with a first strike mental make-up.

As one American commentator put it succinctly, 'Overall, Obama's Asia policy has been largely driven by events and domestic priorities rather than by an over-arching strategic vision. The Obama team had to closely coordinate with China on financial matters in response to the financial crisis.'

Hence, Obama won't care about India's case on Kashmir or rescuing Aung San Suu Kyi , leave aside helping the Dalai Lama to get back to Tibet honourably. His priorities are different.

Feeling euphoric seeing Obama hiring a few Americans with Indian faces on his team make no sense. They would be overburdened to ensure nobody blames them emotionally helping India crossing lines of American interest.

After all, Washington didn't allow Indian intelligence officers to question David Coleman Headley arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of plotting terror attacks in India though India had allowed the FBI to interrogate Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist held in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The US hasn't yet taken Indian companies, including the Indian Space and Research Organisation, off the blacklist prohibiting US agencies dealing with them. It is pressurising India to sign the CTBT without considering that we are surrounded by two nuke powers hostile to us.

The US didn't help us in 1962, bullied us in 1971, put hurdles in our way to punish Pakistan post Kargil, thus helping Islamabad's dictator, didn't take up our case post 26/11.

Washington -- or for that matter any superpower -- respects those who have strength and show an unyielding attitude.

Till we have such rulers who choose a date like 26/11 to be in Washington, rather than being in Mumbai comforting the nation, we can't stop greater powers meddling in our region and affairs.


Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, A centre for civilisational values and policy research, New Delhi, India

 

[RAM]

Couple slips though security to crash state dinner

WASHINGTON – Michaele and Tareq Salahi didn't look out of place at Tuesday's White House state dinner. They were all smiles as they rubbed shoulders with Vice President Joe Biden, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and CBS News anchor Katie Couric.No one suspected the Salahis were a couple of brazen party crashers — and wannabe reality TV stars.

The Secret Service is looking into its security procedures after determining that the Virginia couple managed to slip into Tuesday night's event even though they were not on the guest list, agency spokesman Ed Donovan said.

President Barack Obama was never in any danger because the Salahis went through the same security screening for weapons as the 300-plus people actually invited to the dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Donovan said.Donovan confirmed the identities of the couple. The Washington Post, which first reported on their evening out, said the Salahis were well-known in the Virginia horse-country set and were being considered for the Bravo reality TV show "Real Housewives of D.C."

In an interview with CBS' "Early Show" in September, Michaele Salahi said, "President Obama has made it very accessible for anyone to visit the White House, so that's like a big thing right now." The CBS interview was part of a segment on potential candidates for "Real Housewives of D.C." but never was aired.

The Secret Service learned about the security breach Wednesday after a media inquiry prompted by the Salahis' online boasts about having attended the private event, Donovan said.

One of the many photos from the dinner posted on Michaele Salahi's Facebook page shows the couple with a smiling Biden. In other photos, they appear alone or together with Emanuel, Fenty, Couric, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., and three Marines in their dress blues.

Donovan would not comment on whether the couple had been contacted by the Secret Service, how long they were on the White House grounds or other details of the investigation.

The Post said uninvited guests who got in could face a potential trespassing charge unless someone from inside the White House staff slipped them in.

Donovan would not comment on possible legal violations.

"They'll go through all of this and see what went wrong and fix it," Frances Townsend, who was the White House-based counterterrorism adviser for President George W. Bush, told CNN in an interview broadcast Thursday.

The agency's Office of Professional Responsibility was reviewing what occurred. An initial finding indicated that a checkpoint did not follow proper procedures to ensure the two were on the guest list, Donovan said.

"It's important to note that they went through all the security screenings — the magnetometer screening — just like all the other guests did," Donovan said. And, he added, Obama and others under Secret Service protection had their usual security details with them.

Couple slips though security to crash state dinner - Yahoo! News

 

[RAM]

For key defence purchases from US, India must walk Obama sweet talk

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama may have struck the right personal equation but for this to translate into substantive outcomes, India will soon have to take a political call on certain technical agreements on the defence side to facilitate procurements from the US. While ministries seem to have differing views on the issue, this is one area where the US is awaiting a political signal from India. Given that India is pushing the US to ease controls on selling high technology equipment to India and the PM even raised this with Obama, the US side wants India to also facilitate sale of defence equipment as only that will ensure the military edge New Delhi hopes to acquire through procurement of US military items.

It’s learnt that US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has conveyed to the Prime Minister that it will be difficult for the US to provide related and ancillary equipment for any military platform it sells to India unless it signs the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and another agreement related to exchange of satellite data. The Indian side is said to have responded that the matter is under New Delhi’s consideration. Both these agreements are critical to get sophisticated communications, satellite and information systems that are usually installed in most US platforms. India, for instance, is buying the C-130J transport aircraft but has been frustrated by the fact that many of the on-board systems are not being cleared for sale by the US government. Washington is clear that unless CISMOA is signed, it will be impossible for the US administration to give clearances. India recently opted to also purchase the C-17 aircraft where again this problem is going to crop up.


In fact, sources said, the issue came up when India bought Boeing business jets for Indian VVIPs. At that time, even the End-User Monitoring Agreement had not been signed and so a special End-user and CISMOA arrangement was reached only for that purchase. But the US does not want to follow a case-by-case approach and is pushing for a template just like the End-User Monitoring Agreement which was cleared by the government but did rake up considerable political controversy
The CISMOA is already pending with the Defence Ministry and had been put on hold by the first UPA government because of Left pressure. But there has been no review of that decision after the second UPA government took over. In fact, the latest line from the Defence Ministry is that the government could consider developing some of these equipment indigenously. The same is the case for equipment that relates to data exchange from US satellites. For this, another separate bilateral agreement is needed and India will have to take a call soon because most of these equipment are unique and enhance the capabilities of these platforms. The US is also pushing hard because this may come in the way of the 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft deal where the phased array radar (AESA) is being promised.

For key defence purchases from US, India must walk Obama sweet talk

 

[RAM]

U.S. help sought to set up National Environmental Protection Authority

India has sought help from the United States for setting up the National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA) on the lines of a similar agency in the U.S.The issue also came up during discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this week, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said here on Thursday. Dr. Singh is now on an official visit to the U.S.The Centre recently announced new National Ambient Air Quality Standards that were on a par with the European standards, and some of these were even better than U.S. standards, Mr. Ramesh said.

The NEPA will function as a premier scientific body for monitoring compliance with environment-related laws. It will eventually act as the regulatory body, linked with similar agencies at the State-level.Mr. Ramesh said the authority, to subsume all regulatory bodies including the Central Pollution Control Board, was expected to be established within three to four months.

The joint India-U.S. statement mentions entering into a ‘Green Partnership’ to address the global challenges of energy security, food security and climate change. The two leaders have also agreed to launch a Clean Energy and Climate Change Initiative, the goal of which would be to improve the lives of people in both countries by developing and improving access to technologies that make energy cleaner, affordable and more efficientThe initiative will include cooperation in wind and solar energy, second generation bio-fuels, unconventional gas, energy efficiency and clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and storage.

Its success is expected to enhance the ability of India and the U.S. in providing new economic opportunities for their people and to create new clean energy jobs, the joint statement said.On its part, India believes Dr. Singh’s visit has laid the foundation for a significant and focussed collaborative effort on both clean energy and climate change.

The Hindu : News / National : U.S. help sought to set up National Environmental Protection Authority

 

[ppgj]

Take-away From Washington

K Subrahmanyam 27 November 2009, 12:00am IST

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set out for his state visit to Washington, there was great expectation in India that terrorism would feature high on the agenda of his discussion with President Barack Obama. November 24, the date of their summit, fell two days before the first anniversary of the terrible Mumbai massacre last year. The Headley-Rana case, with its speculative connections with 26/11, had been dominating media headlines.

The expectations were not belied. The two leaders discussed the issue of terrorism and have come out with clear formulations which should set to rest the misperception that the Obama administration is likely to pay less attention to India than its predecessor, or that it is likely to make an early exit from the Af-Pak region, which is the epicentre of terrorism.

While the US president reiterated the condemnation of the Mumbai attack, the two leaders underscored the absolute imperative to bring to justice the perpetrators of 26/11. They expressed grave concern over the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremists emanating from India's neighbourhood whose impact is felt beyond the region.

Obviously, they had in mind British prime minister Gordon Brown's estimation that 75 per cent of terrorist plots in Britain had trails leading back to Pakistan. Almost every month jihadi plotters are arrested in the US and most of them have links with terrorist organisations functioning in Pakistan. Mostly due to the efficiency of the intelligence agencies and security services of the US there has been no successful terrorist strike since 9/11 on American soil. Recently, a Pakistani-American, Najibullah Zazi, was arrested in Denver attempting to make explosive devices using cosmetic lotions, as was earlier done by the Pakistan-linked UK terrorists plotting to explode trans-Atlantic flights.

The joint statement records "The two leaders reiterated their shared interest in the stability, development and independence of Afghanistan and in the defeat of terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and Afghanistan. President Obama appreciated India's role in reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. The two leaders agreed to enhance their respective efforts in this direction." With this statement President Obama has made it clear he did not endorse the apprehensions expressed by the Pakistanis and accepted by some Americans including General Stanley A McChrystal US commander in Afghanistan that Indian development activities in Afghanistan were a cause for concern for Pakistan.

The two leaders vowed to redouble their efforts to deal effectively with terrorism while protecting their countries' common ideals and shared values and committed themselves to strengthening global consensus and legal regimes against terrorism. They decided on a counterterrorism cooperation initiative to expand collaboration on counterterrorism, information sharing and capacity building. Following the 26/11 attack, information sharing between the two countries was stepped up.

Many Pakistanis are of the view that the Americans will tire out in the next two to three years and leave Afghanistan. Then the situation would be back to square one and, with Pakistan having substantial strategic depth in Afghanistan, the operations of jihadi terrorist organisations could be harnessed as instruments of state policy. For them, Obama had a clear message. Referring to his decision on an Afghan troop surge, which he proposes to announce on December 1, the president made it clear that it was in America's strategic interest to ensure that al-Qaeda and its extremist allies could not operate from those areas.

The US was going to disrupt and degrade their capabilities and ultimately dismantle and destroy their networks. Obama asserted that after eight years, during some of which the US did not have either the resources or the strategy to get the job done, it was now his intention to finish the job.

The Washington visit resulted in the counterterrorism cooperation initiative between India and the US. It also clarified that the US intended to pursue the al-Qaeda and its associates to their end and wanted India to reinforce its efforts in Afghanistan. Unlike George Bush who was permissive of General Pervez Musharraf nurturing the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and its associate extremist organisations, Obama has made it clear to Pakistan that extremist organisations are carcinogenic and could kill Pakistan from within. He has told Pakistan there will be no more blank cheques from the US. The Kerry-Lugar Act requires the US administration to monitor military aid to Pakistan carefully and ensure it is not diverted to arming the Pakistani army against India. Obama is also the first US president to tell Pakistan that India is not a threat to that country.

The US itself is a victim of numerous attempted Pakistani terrorist acts. Since Pakistan carries out its terrorist activity behind the shield of a nuclear arsenal and uses the terrorism excuse to blackmail the US for billions of dollars of aid, there are limitations on US pressure that can be put on Pakistan. Therefore, Washington is compelled to employ a strategy of both engagement and pressure with Islamabad.

The writer is a strategic affairs expert.

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