Bush's Indian legacy
James Forsyth 10:45pm
It is appropriate that the US president will be in India on the day that President Bush’s memoirs are published. For President Bush transformed the relations between these two countries, making a strategic alliance possible. This will turn out to be one of Bush’s most important legacies.
A strong US-India relationship is vital if this century is going to be one that sees democracy advance. An alliance between the US and India would act as an effective check on China’s attempts to assert its power in Asia.
However, I suspect that, for obvious and understandable reasons, most of the coverage of Bush’s memoirs will focus on his comments on 9/11 and its aftermath. The most striking of these so far is Bush’s claim that the water-boarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed revealed information that helped foil attack on Heathrow and Canary Wharf.
Previous
yank
November 8th, 2010 11:28pm Report this commentVery astute, Mr. Forsyth. I noticed this, too. In tone and effect, this initiative was different from the typical Foggy Bottom churning, and seemed underlain with authentic embrace of another. And Bush's own hand, discounting the quirky NWO types and facilitating nookoolar cooperation with India, absent all the niceties the world government types of this world see as all important. India was treated as an adult... one of us. How refreshing.
Such a peculiar matchup... the jains and the hicks. And now, the college proffy appears the one out of place in this picture (like Dave before him).
Verity
November 9th, 2010 1:18am Report this commentDon't ever misunderestimate President Bush.
He was in the oil industry before entering politics, and those guys in the Texas "oil bidness" are quick as cats.
Vulture
November 9th, 2010 9:18am Report this commentAgree with you abt the US-India alliance, James. A little noticed development, but vital for the future of the civilised ( ie. non-Muslim) world.
For decades, the US mistakenly backed up and supported Pakistan for the usual reasons : it was run by right-wing Generals.
India was thought to be a dangerously leftist democracy.
My, how times have changed.
As to the torture business, stand by for shrieks of outrage from lawyers and lefties.
I see no problem in torturing enemies to save innocent lives who have no compunction in torturing us. This is gloves off war, and it will take the next inevitable Islamist outrage in London to remind us of the fact. Then the left-wing lawyers and David Davis may observe a period of silence. But don't bet on it.
Rhoda Klapp
November 9th, 2010 9:54am Report this commentVulture, India was indeed a dangerous left-wing kinda-democracy, while the USSR was alive it was a major arms supplier to Inida. Had it not been, Nixon/China might not have happened. India could have started its economic miracle back in '47 if only Gandhi's successors had had any idea of how to run a country for prosperity. It's better now.
I still suspect that the Indian miracle is largely smoke and mirrors though, old cynic that I am. I looked around the kitchen yesterday when this came up. No goods from India at all, maybe some rice. Stuff from China? All over the place. Inida's only contribution (since i don't have a Jag or a Range-Rover) is those annoying people on the phone.
Jez
November 9th, 2010 10:41am Report this commentIs he going to China to advance Democracy?
Oh, sorry Osborne's there.
Anyway, Bush at the time seemed utterly sh*t- but how many of us were sucked in by the liberal media slant.
I'll admit it; I was.
The post invasion Iraq was the real disaster and with that; just how ill-advised was that guy?
Back to top