India swims into NATO ken
CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2004
WASHINGTON: India has been invited to take part in air exercises with NATO
countries in July this year, the first step in what appears to be a new
great game to draw New Delhi into the western sphere of influence.
The exercises, to be held in Alaska, will also feature Japan, a close and
traditional US ally, besides NATO stalwarts UK and Canada.
The invitation is part of a new American strategy to take NATO beyond the
confines of Europe, where ties between Washington and some of its allies are
tetchy. Expanding NATO with new members outside Europe, while diluting its
"North Atlantic" charter, is evidently aimed at enhancing American influence
at the expense of its European allies.
As it is, the US has succeeded in getting NATO into Afghanistan, the first
time the 55- organisation has taken up duties outside Europe. Next step:
Iraq.
This is where India could come in handy . Major NATO countries of Europe are
opposed to its deployment in Iraq, but Japan has already chipped in with
troops. An expanded NATO could deploy more easily in Iraq .
There is also talk of bringing in several central Asian and Arab countries
into the NATO fold.
Getting India on the NATO platform will also help US scupper the frequently
touted Russia-China-India axis .
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/522155.cms
--
A pattern of deception
A hard truth appears to have escaped the notice of the public and received
scant attention from the media: Bush is the first president in American
history to use deceptive propaganda as his main means of communications in
selling his policies. His pattern of deception continues unabated and in
direct conflict with the notion of the public's informed consent that is
central to American democracy.
Walter Williams is professor emeritus at the University of Washington's
Evans School of Public Affairs.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/6378746.htm
.
|
