NationStates Jolt Archive


US lawmakers letter to Indian PM "Forget Iran or our friendship's over"

Aryavartha
04-05-2007, 12:07
Well, not exactly in those words...but words to that effect.

Actual letter
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/04pmletter.pdf

Excertps
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/04ndeal.htm
The strong-worded letter from Capitol Hill came from senior law makers like Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, ranking Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Howard Berman, Gary Ackerman, who is the Chair of the House Middle East and South Asia subcommittee, and others.

"Regarding Iran, we are deeply concerned by India's increasing co-operation with that country, including the exchange of visits between high-level officials, enhanced military ties, and negotiations of agreements to establish closer economic relations," they said in the letter going on to list the kind of interactions New Delhi has had with Tehran.

"In March, the commander of the Iranian navy, Rear Admiral Sajjad Koucheki-Badelani, visited India at the invitation of Admiral Sureesh Mehta, the chief of the staff of the Indian Navy, to discuss the strengthening of military relations.

"A joint defense working group reportedly has been established and will meet later this year in Tehran to pursue broader co-operation in defense, including training Iranian military personnel," the senior law makers pointed out in their letter.

"Such co-operation raises renewed questions about the possible diversion of sensitive technology to Iran,:rolleyes: for which Indian entities have been sanctioned in recent years, including US-origin technology provided to India in the context of civilian nuclear and space co-operation," they said.

"We are also concerned that broadened economic relations between India and Iran are being pursued. Among the most prominent developments is the agreement reached earlier this year for the construction of a major natural gas pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and India that will provide the government of Iran with billions of dollars of revenue," the lawmakers said.

"As strong proponents of closer ties between the United States and India, we are deeply concerned that the developments outlined in this letter have a significant potential to negatively affect relationship between the US and India in general and consideration by Congress of the 123 Agreement in particular," they said.

"Mr Prime Minister, we urge you to provide assurances that India will cease illicit procurement activities in the US, sever military cooperation with Iran and terminate India's participation in the development of Iran's energy sector. By taking these important steps, you can ensure that the positive evolution of our bilateral relationship continues," the lawmakers said.

Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had expressed puzzlement as to the origin of the stories on the so-called India-Iran military engagement and argued that what

New Delhi did with Teheran was no different from what other countries did.
"Nothing that India does with Iran is in any way contravention of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Much of what we do is normal between states and done with Iran by several other states," he had said at a press interaction at the Embassy of India on Tuesday.

What makes this the mother of all irony is that the US has no qualms in being in bed with the actual sponsors of real salafi terrorism - KSA and Pak.

Just replace India with US and Iran with Pakistan and the "concerns expressed" are of several orders more in magnitude and range.

US admin keeps saying "Do as we say, not as we do" - and then they are amazed when people point out the hypocrisy.
OcceanDrive
04-05-2007, 12:33
US admin keeps saying "Do as we say, not as we do" - and then they are amazed when people point out the hypocrisy.of course.. you are aware that the Ethiopian Dictator bought arms from North Korea in a violation of a U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution.

and -of course- this was OK'd by my Dear Leader.. after all.. The Ethiopian Christian Dictator is on a holy mission against the evil Muslims.

I assume the new South Korean UN-General-secretary has little to say about all this.
Dobbsworld
04-05-2007, 13:54
US admin keeps saying "Do as we say, not as we do" - and then they are amazed when people point out the hypocrisy.

Let's hope amazement is followed swiftly by realization - the realization that their credibility has so long fallen by the wayside that the world now collectively shrugs when they say 'jump'.
Non Aligned States
04-05-2007, 14:04
Let's hope amazement is followed swiftly by realization - the realization that their credibility has so long fallen by the wayside that the world now collectively shrugs when they say 'jump'.

Let's see. The US is alienating India, and has already done so with China (mostly). Russia doesn't have anything nice to say to the US.

So....if the nincompoops in Washington continue to make threats and demands, we might see the US becoming politically and economically isolated in the long run.

Which might serve as a good humbling for the thickskulls.
Risottia
04-05-2007, 15:46
By taking these important steps, you can ensure that the positive evolution of our bilateral relationship continues," the lawmakers said.

Put on the Godfather's soundtrack... this is an offer India can't refuse, MINCHIA!

:rolleyes:

I wonder how those dickheads think they're going to affect India with threats, expecially after the 2005 (iirc) wargames between Indian and US forces.:D
Aryavartha
04-05-2007, 19:31
Put on the Godfather's soundtrack... this is an offer India can't refuse, MINCHIA!

I wonder how those dickheads think they're going to affect India with threats, expecially after the 2005 (iirc) wargames between Indian and US forces.:D

I have been following this nuke deal issue from the beginning and I can't help but say that the tactics used by some people in the US admin leaves a very bad taste. This is not how you build relationship with a potential ally. This is just bullying and India may eventually agree to tone down its relationship with Iran in the interest of the nuke deal, but this will be remembered and quoted all the time....especially by Indian commies and leftists and muslim.

Iran is a neighbor of India. India and Iran have historical relationships. A significant portion (20% +) of Indian muslims (~150 millions) are shia and have very positive ties to Iran. Plus Iran is a very big part of Indian vision for the region. They give road access to Afghanistan and it is vital because Pakistan denies India road access to Afg.

Iran has its problems. I am not one to deny Iran's sponsorship of Hezb and other actors. I am also not a fan of Ahmedinejad or the clerics in Qom. But there is no comparision between the dangers posed by Hezb and other Iran backed militia groups and the dangers posed by AQ, LeT, JeM and other Pak-KSA backed salafi groups.

As somebody who has lost more than 50,000 fellow countrymen to Pak sponsored terrorism, it is very irritating everytime I hear "OMGZ IRAN IS THE EVIL...IRAN IS THE BIGGEST STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM AND YOU BETTER CUT TIES WITH IRAN".

I used to be a big proponent of the nuclear deal. I am unsure now. If the aim is to make India a poodle, then I favor scrapping the deal and burn the fucking coal instead. :D