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America The Passé
Tim Dunlop has reported on a conversation he had with someone familiar with a recent Congressional trip to India. The Indian government wallahs told the Congressmen, in essence:
"We consider ourselves as in competition with China for leadership in the new century. That's our focus and frankly, you have made it very difficult for us to deal with oyu. We find your approach to international affairs ridiculous. The invasion of Iraq was insane. You've encouraged the very things you say you were trying to fix - terrorism and instability. Your attitude to Iran is ridiculous. You need to engage with Iran. We are. We are bemused by your hypocrisy. You lecture the world about dealing with dictators and you deal with Pakistan. We are very sorry for your losses from the 9/11 terror attacks. Welcome to our world. You threaten us with sanctions for not signing the non-proliferation treaty, but you continue to be nuclear armed and to investigate new weapons. You expect us to neglect our own security because you want us to. We don't care about sanctions."
I have noticed that many world travelling Americans are as shocked by the world's indifference as they are about the negative ("anti-American") comments whenever America is discussed. I guess that when you are number one, you need people to keep telling you you are number one or it means nothing.
December 19, 2004 in America Inc | Permalink
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» America The Passé: Not Fear, But Indifference from RelentlesslyOptimistic
Several months ago I read an essay suggesting that the current conservative hysteria was a backlash resulting from America's fading position as the world superpower. If you buy that argument, this lends credence to it. Either way, it's interesting [Read More]
Tracked on Dec 20, 2004 4:17:31 AM
Comments
I find it hard to believe that the Indian government doesn't really care much about America, especially on economic issues. I wonder if the the attitude is mostly bravado, for the Indians themselves make points that show that India's economy will be closely linked to America's for decades to come. The Indians talked about their skilled high tech workers, but these workers are employed by Dell, HP, and other American companies. Or take their claim that India produces thousands of science PhD's each year. But where are the Indians actually getting their PhD's? From American universities, of course.
Their attitude towards Iraq is understandable though short-sighted, considering their own terrorism problems. If India had had enough military power to prevent Pakistan from building its first nuclear bomb, would they have exercised this power? I suspect they would.
Posted by: Peter Caress | Dec 22, 2004 7:04:35 AM
Wow. Nearly non-stop rants and tirades against the U.S. and every entry I've read so-far is pure bile directed at Americans, yet you have the audacity to say that:
"I have noticed that many world travelling Americans are as shocked by the world's indifference as they are about the negative ("anti-American") comments whenever America is discussed."
You don't know many world-travelling Americans. You don't know much about history, and you probably know even less about the actions of your own government.
But please, keep flapping your angst in the wind. The internet needs more of that.
Posted by: Nathan | Feb 8, 2005 9:34:42 AM