President Obama Visits India -- News Roundup November 8, 2010

President Obama delivered a speech to India’s parliament on the third and final day of his visit to the country on Monday. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Obama Backs India's Quest For U.N. Permanent Seat -- Yahoo News/Reuters

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama endorsed on Monday India's long-held demand for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, a reflection of the Asian country's growing global weight and its challenge to rival China.

India says a seat on the council would reflect the importance of the G20 nation as its trillion dollar economy helps spur global growth and its government exerts more and more influence over issues from Doha trade to climate change talks.

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More News On President Obama's Trip To India/Asia

Obama backs India bid for UN Security Council seat -- Yahoo News/AP
Obama backs India on permanent UN Security Council seat -- BBC
Obama Backs India for Seat on Security Council -- New York Times
U.N. Security Council: Obama Supports India -- Time Magazine/AP
Obama backs permanent seat for India on Security Council -- CNN
Barack Obama offers backing to India's bid for UN security council seat -- The Guardian

President Obama outlines larger role for India -- Politico
Obama hails ties with 'world power' India -- Yahoo News/AFP
Obama: US and India can cooperate on nuclear issue -- AP
Obama, Singh Hail Strengthened US-India Relationship -- Voice of America
Obama, Indian Prime Minister to Hold Formal Bilateral Talks -- Voice of America
Speaking in India, Obama says terror safe-havens in Pakistan unacceptable -- L.A. Times
Obama in Mumbai Calls India Market of the Future -- Voice of America
Obama credits Gandhi with helping him to presidency -- AFP
Obama Invokes Gandhi, Whose Ideal Eludes India -- New York Times
The Obamas’ Trip to India -- Wall Street Journal opinion
Pakistan divides U.S. and India -- L.A. Times editorial

In pictures: Obama in India -- BBC

President Obama Visits India -- News Roundup

President Obama and his wife, Michelle, with Usha Thakkar, director of Mani Bhavan, the Gandhi Museum in Mumbai, India. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Bomb-Proof Tunnel With Air Conditioning: Obama's Security Go To Extraordinary Measures For His Tour Of The Gandhi Museum -- The Daily Mail

* American warships to patrol off Mumbai during visit
* Coconuts removed from trees as a precaution
* 250 U.S. business executives with Obama on 'biggest ever trade mission'
* $200million Asia trip cost denied but the President will have huge entourage

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle arrived in India's commercial hub of Mumbai on Saturday, days after voters punished his Democrats in mid-term elections.

Probably not since the days of the Pharaohs or the more ludicrous Roman Emperors has a head of state travelled in such pomp and expensive grandeur as the President of the United States of America.

While lesser mortals – the Pope, Queen Elizabeth and so on – are usually happy to let their hosts handle most of the security and transport arrangements when they venture beyond their home shores, the United States creates a mini-America on the move to ensure that nothing is left to chance.

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More News On President Obama's Visit To India

Obama wraps up Mumbai visit, heads to Delhi -- Yahoo News/AFP
Obama Invokes Gandhi, Whose Ideal Eludes Modern India -- New York Times
Obama calls India creator, not poacher, of US jobs -- Yahoo News/AP
In India, Obama pushes U.S. jobs -- CNN
US President Barack Obama announces $10bn India deals -- BBC
On Day 1 of India visit, Obama showcases trade deals with US firms -- Christian Science Monitor
U.S. Eases Restrictions on Exports to India -- Wall Street Journal
Obama wins India business -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Obama makes it all about business on first day in India -- McClatchy News
Obama in India: 'It is Hard to Overstate the Importance of Asia to Our Economic Future' -- New York Magazine
America and India: The Almost-Special Relationship -- New York Times
$200 million a day? -- The Economist

Air Force One to hit schedules for a six -- Times of India
Five layers of security for Obama's Delhi visit -- Sify News
Coastal security put on highest level of alert -- Times of India
The eagle lands, followed by decoy -- Times of India
English-speaking cops confined for four days in the Taj -- DNAIndia

U.S. Arm Sales To India And Pakistan Stirs Resentment

U.S. Sells Arms To South Asian Rivals -- Wall Street Journal

Washington Increases Weapons Transfers to India and Pakistan to Maintain Neutrality, Aid Industry.

The Obama administration is sharply expanding American weapons transfers to both India and Pakistan, longtime rivals about to sit down for peace talks Thursday.

The U.S. has sought to remain neutral in the thorny relationship between the nuclear-armed neighbors. But Washington hasn't been shy about pursuing weapons deals in the region, which officials say will lead to closer ties with each country while creating new opportunities for American defense firms.

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My Comment: For the US India is the 800 lb gorilla in the room, especially since they pay for their purchases with their own money. Pakistan's importance is in direct relation with how it assists the US in Afghanistan and targeting Taliban/Al Qaeda leaders .... a precarious and unreliable relationship even at the best of times.

Can The U.S. Influence India And Pakistan?

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, left, talks with Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Jan. 21, 2010. DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

Pentagon Chief Defends Arms Sales To India, Pakistan -- L.A. Times

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the deals will help the U.S. earn trust in a region where it hopes to avert another war.

Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates leaned on India and Pakistan during his trip to South Asia this week to set aside a simmering rivalry and confront militant extremists. At the same time, Gates and other U.S. officials pushed arms sales that could fuel the antagonism between the two countries.

Gates' trip was framed by that apparent contradiction in U.S. policy. On his arrival in Pakistan, a television news interviewer put the question bluntly: "Why re-arm both countries?" The Pentagon chief sidestepped the question.

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My Comment: As much as I would like to believe that the U.S. can influence Indian-Pakistan relations .... the sad fact of the matter is that both countries will never compromise on what they perceive is their national security interests. Since both of their national security interests perceive the other as a threat, to find common ground in which peace can be pursued is not an easy job.

At least US Secretary of Defense Gates is trying, but it is Sec. of State Clinton and President Obama who should be on the forefront in this diplomatic and political effort.

Is U.S. - Indian Relations On The Skids?

US President Barack Obama meets with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit in London. Photograph: Jason Reed / Reuters

Indian Officials Wary After Perceived White House Slights -- Washington Post

Concerns arise days before Prime Minister Singh makes first state visit.

Days before India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to be welcomed in the White House for his first state visit with President Obama, two perceived missteps by the Obama administration have concerned Indian officials that New Delhi suddenly has been relegated to the second tier of U.S.-Asian relations.

Singh arrives Sunday on a four-day trip that is meant to solidify a relationship transformed under the Bush administration by a deal on nuclear technology, increasing trade and investment, immigration, educational exchanges and unprecedented security cooperation.

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My comment: The Indian Government (like everyone else) noticed how President Obama abandoned treaty agreements (on missile defense) with Eastern European nations to favor better relations with Russia .... they are now voicing concerns that India is now being put on the side by the Americans for better relations with China.

The Indians are not going to buy into such a relationship, and are obviously leaking their concerns to the Washington Post.

India has a very serious border dispute with China, and its conflict with neighboring Pakistan has been ongoing for decades. For the U.S. to be even perceived as playing favorites in this part of the world will only poison our relationship with the party that feels it is being disparaged. Will the U.S. administration be careful its language with one of our most important allies in the region .... if precedent is anything to go on .... my prediction is that the U.S. will be soon alienating another ally.

India-US Military Relations Growing Rapidly

From Voice of America:

For decades, India mostly depended on, first, the Soviet Union and then Russia for its military supplies. But as the Cold War ended and India's relations with the United States began improving during Bill Clinton's presidency, New Delhi gradually increased its military cooperation with Washington. Both New Delhi and Washington have said their relationship is not aimed against India's arch-rival Pakistan. Today, besides holding joint military exercises with the U.S. military, India has also been buying U.S. armaments worth billions of dollars.

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Update: US, Indian troops plan live-fire exercises -- Reuters

My Comment: India and China will be the two regional super powers of Asia .... it is only natural that the U.S. will strive to develop close relations with both countries .... both economically AND militarily.

U.S. And India Sign Nuclear And Defense Deals

Hillary Clinton shares a light moment with Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna after signing an agreement on an endowment fund for science and technology. Photo AP.

U.S., India Set Defense Deals -- Wall Street Journal

Clinton Ends Visit, Securing Pledge of Two Nuclear-Power Sites, More Cooperation

NEW DELHI -- The U.S. and India announced deals that could bring American defense contractors and power companies billions of dollars in business as Hillary Clinton wrapped up her first visit as secretary of state to the South Asian nation.

During her trip, Mrs. Clinton also addressed foreign-policy questions elsewhere in Asia. In a television interview aired Monday, Mrs. Clinton compared North Korea to a child seeking attention, continuing a string of statements that bristle Pyongyang but pointedly sum up the situation.

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My Comment: After Japan and Australia, these agreements further establish India as one of America's crucial and significant allies in Asia.

U.S. Hopes To Unveil Defense, Nuclear Deals In India

From Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hopes to unveil agreements that would help U.S. firms sell sophisticated arms and nuclear power plants to India when she visits next week, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

One would be an "end-use monitoring" agreement under which the United States would have the right to make sure U.S. arms sold to India are used for their intended purpose and that the technology does not leak to third countries.

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More News On U.S. - India Defense/Nuclear Agreements

India May Approve Nuclear Sites, U.S. Defense Accord -- Bloomberg
India Designates Sites for U.S. Nuclear Deals -- Wall Street Journal
India Selects Two Sites For Construction Of US Nuclear Reactors -- Energy Business
India to offer 2 nuclear parks to U.S. companies during Clinton visit -- China View
India News Digest: Nervous China May Attack India by 2012: Expert -- Wall Street Journal

My Comment: This U.S./Indian relationship is going to get the attention of both Pakistan and China. Expect a different altitude from both countries when they meet U.S. officials in the future.

New Delhi Weighs Up US Missile Shield

Photo from Military Images

From The Financial Times:

The US is in preliminary talks with India over the sale of missile shield systems to help New Delhi guard against nuclear threats.

India’s need for greater protection against threats emanating from Pakistan and other volatile countries in the region was highlighted by an escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following the Mumbai terror attacks in November last year. The two countries have fought three wars over the last 61 years.

Officials at the US embassy in New Delhi told the Financial Times that talks had taken place, mainly at the technical level. They said US defence officials had conducted computer simulations with their Indian counterparts to demonstrate the capabilities of such technology.

Experts from India’s Defence Research Development Organisation have also watched two live launches of missiles used in the shield system.

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My Comment: This is a testament to the changing relationship between India and the U.S.. India may not have the money to purchase such a system for now .... but things will probably change in the not too distant future.