....But Iraq invasion is not in the interest of our nation.
Not to mention the Iraqies themselves!
Dear rcscwc, I think we need to look at humanity as a whole and not look through the narrow prism of nationality. Victory in this struggle is hard to articulate. Every week we get a listing of the war dead from Iraq and Afghanistan, most are in their early twenties, some even teenagers, with a few early thirties thrown in -- prime of life. For every dead soldier there is a family behind it. The suicide rate among those who make it back to the U.S. alive is alarmingly high and it even exceeds the war dead in Afghanistan, according to some reports. In the absence of draft, it is the poor and working class people who opt for a military career and therefore shoulder the load.
Of course, all the above is nothing compared to the untold miseries the wretched poor in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan suffer everyday. Death can come anytime from the sky, remote controlled from tens of thousands of miles away, while they mourn the dead and nurse nascent anger, the one who pushed the button goes back to have dinner with a loving spouse and beautiful children back from school. Nobody cares, not for the wretched thousands of miles away, nor for the soldier who gets to kill sitting in an air-conditioned room. Just get it done, whatever that it is, they all are terrorists anyway and aren't we the good guys?!!!
This is the legacy of the U.S. foreign policy. What is India's role? India has put its lot on the side of the U.S. If India becomes a permanent member of the UNSC, how would they vote if a Iraq-style resolution authorizing any means necessary against Iran comes up? Please think about it. Already India threw Iran under the bus for no other reason than to not displease the Americans. Look at Brazil and Turkey, they have some self-respect. Talk about colonial mind-set, the ones who want to blame all their shortcomings upon the British are the one's who can't wait to play Robin to the Batman U.S.
Stable Pakistan in India's interest? My foot. India should work for the break up of Pakistan.
Is this not a mirror image of what a Pakistani Sindhi/Punjabi who lived through partition and still holds a grudge against Hindus would say? For the common people, the ones from Vandavasi or Dindukkal, does any of this make their life any better? Of course, it is great for the likes of Shashi Tharoor. What is in it even for the vast middle-class, except for bragging rights and some vicarious pride, neither of which will come in handy if a contract gets canceled and you are out of a job.
India can prosper without selling its soul to the U.S. corporate interests. But, to realize that, Indians need some self-respect, some backbone, some self-confidence. Are Indians up to it?
Cheers!
