"Gary White, a U.S. radio telephone operator for the exercises, called the experience of working with the Indian army “a culture shock.”"
I can only imagine. Maybe I'll dig out some old articles on this subject. Can't find them quickly. But here are some things I dug up:
http://www.comw.org/pda/0603india.html
http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/s...sep/
18malik.htm
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w...24&
s=ross092407
We lack Israel's intelligence. (Not supporting their settlements in the occupied territories mind you.)
India was the second largest provider of foreign aid to Afghanistan last year after the US (see Afghan's annual budget report).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.c...how/
2400121.cms
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
st...eep+Kabul+clean
10th Mountain could use training here:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/
wo...L24103120070926
Isn't Russia commited to Afghanistan?
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.p...5&
vsv=SHGTslot1
anand,
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is about the last place Russia has any real influence...they are going to be really sensitive if others try to make friends.
A very good article from Bill Roggio's right side bar about Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2103.../site/newsweek/
The fate of 6 1/2 billion people may very well rest on Lt. Gen Kiyani's shoulders. And they don't know it.
SD2,
Some of the Russian leadership don't seem to have a clear grasp of Russia's national interest, or their definition of Russia's national interest is increasingly divorced from Russia's economic interest and the perspective of Russia's business community.
Why is Russia's business community growing less influential? Slightly worrying, although far less worrying than the old former Soviet Union.
We Americans welcome Canada and Mexico taking a greater interest in international affairs. To the degree Canada and Mexico form closer relationships with other countries, it generally promotes America’s interests. The same is true of Russia's close neighbors.
anand,
I think the US would be concerned if Canada and Mexico were signing mutual defense pacts with the Russians. All of Eastern Europe with the exception of Belarus has jumped into NATO at the first possible chance. Putin still hasn't gotten over Georgia bolting.
Those colored revoultions are pretty devasting...first you establish enough of a relationship where NGO's can operate freely...then the NGO's do their whole pacifist make friends kind of thing...then there is a colored revolution....ohh lookee...a new democracy that doesn't answer to Moscow.
"Those colored revoultions are pretty devasting...first you establish enough of a relationship where NGO's can operate freely...then the NGO's do their whole pacifist make friends kind of thing...then there is a colored revolution....ohh lookee...a new democracy that doesn't answer to Moscow."
Colored revolutions leading to market oriented democracies across all of Latin America were celebrated by America during the 1989 timeframe by those Americans who knew it was happening. (Please forgive me for the wise crack . . . but we Americans could use being a little more aware about what is happening around the world) America has benefited enormously from the freedom and democracy revolution in Latin America.
The US has greatly encouraged Mexico and Brazil to become more active in global security and peacekeeping missions.
As all the people who read this site probably know, Brazil leads the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti—where a large detachment of Chinese troops are under Brazilian command.
Military exercises between Latin American countries and other militaries (including ours) are a good thing. It increases interoperability between militaries, and increases the capacity and likelihood of Latin American countries contributing to global security operations (a public good that benefits everyone, regardless of who pays for it or provides it).
None of Russia’s neighbors want a negative relationship with Russia. They “ALL” want good relations with Russia and other countries. To the degree that Russia’s neighbors work closely with other countries and that partnership accelerates their progress on freedom, democracy, globalization, and prosperity . . . Russia benefits more than anyone.
On the security side, the primary interests of the other great powers are:
1) fighting extreme militant islamists (benefits Russia as much as anybody)
2) facilitating freedom, democracy, globalization, and prosperity(benefits Russia as much as anybody.)
3) Fight organized crime and encourage the rule of law (Ditto)
4) Facilitate democracy, freedom and globalization in Russia by the power of examples in Russia’s neighborhood (benefits the Russian people most of all)
Ergo, Russia’s neighbors working closely with other countries on economics, law-enforcement, institutions, governance and security generally benefits Russia.
Russia’s business community needs to push the national security fossils back into their place. On our side, we need to make sure that our relationships with Russia’s neighbors benefit Russia (and communicate this to the Russian people).
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