This is a collection of links for a geo-strategic analysis, and the economics of wars and allies. The author neither condones nor condemns current global dynamics in the balance of power.
nations don’t have friends or enemies…nations only have interests
In 2003
The war in Iraq had a unique Indian angle right at the beginning. Some members of the US administration felt they needed more troops in Iraq, and they started negotiating with India. Those negotiations broke down because the Indians wanted to fight under the UN flag and on MONEY!!
India wanted-
- More money per soldier deployed,
- more share in post War Oil Contracts,
- better diplomatic subtlety
NEW DELHI: There will be a lot a Iraq on the menu over the weekend before the Pentagon team arrives here on Monday to talk India into sending troops to the war-torn nation.
Jul 28, 2003, 01.28pm IST
NEW DELHI: Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Richard B Myers, who is arriving here on Monday evening on a two-day visit, will request India to reconsider its decision on sending troops to Iraq.
and
Jul 29, 2003, 07.00pm IST
NEW DELHI: Though Gen Myers flatly denied his visit had anything to do with persuading India to send troops to Iraq, it is evident that the US desperately wants Delhi to contribute a division-level force of over 15,000 combat soldiers.
Sep 10, 2003, 05.34pm IST
NEW DELHI: Even as the US-drafted resolution on Iraq is being heatedly debated in many countries, American Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca held a series of meetings with External Affairs Ministry officials on Wednesday.
Though it was officially called “a regional dialogue”, the US request to contribute a division-level force of over 15,000 combat soldiers to the “stabilisation force” in Iraq is learnt to have figured in the discussions.
The penny wise -pound foolish attitude of then Def Secretary Rumsfield led to break down in negotiations.
“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill
In 2012
Indian govt again faces elections and we have 150 million Muslim voters just like other countries have influential lobbies.
and while Israelis are being targeted again in attacks in India-
India is still seeking money-
India has struck a defiant tone over new financial sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union to punish Iran for its nuclear programme, coming up with elaborate trade and barter arrangements to pay for oil supplies.
However, the president of the All India Rice Exporters’ Association, said Monday’s attack on the wife of an Israeli diplomat in the Indian capital will damage trade with Iran and may complicate efforts to resolve an impasse over Iranian defaults on payments for rice imports worth around $150 million.
India buys $ 5 billion worth of oil from Iran. Annually. Clearly it is a critical financial trading partner to Iran.
It has now gotten extra sops from Iran to continue trading-and is now waiting for a sweeter monetary offer from US and/or Israel to even consider thinking about going through the pain of unchanging the inertia of ties with Iran.
There are some aspects of political corruption as well, as Indian political establishment is notoriously prone to corruption by lobbyists (apparently there is a global war on lobbyists that needs to happen)
The team is expected to go to Tehran later this month to discuss steps to expand India’s trade with Iran, part of a larger strategy to pay for Iranian oil, said highly-placed sources.
Despite the US and European Union sanctions on Iran, India recently sealed a payment mechanism under which Indian companies will pay for 45 percent of their crude oil imports from Iran in rupees.
So diplomats with argue over money in Israel, Indian and US while terrorists will kill.