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Howdy, George (Excellent editorial from The Indian Express)
The Indian Express ^ | Thursday, March 02, 2006 | Shekhar Gupta

Posted on 03/01/2006 5:40:15 PM PST by indcons

George W. Bush, who arrived in the capital last night, wouldn’t have encountered those protesting against his visit. Even if he did, Bush, who sees protestors every day outside White House, should be delighted at the vigorous freedom of expression practised in the world’s largest democracy. More so because the major message from vox populi seems a welcome, not a protest: opinion polls in India have consistently shown strong popular support to both the US and the president in the last few years. Bush’s personal standing in this country seems higher than in many other countries, including perhaps, at this point, in his own!

That 71 per cent in India have a favourable view of the US and 54 per cent support Bush’s handling of world affairs, as reported by the latest Pew poll, underlines globalising India’s new attitudes. The post-colonial chip is no longer an issue to a confident new generation of Indians which has grown up in the era of economic reforms. Unlike the inward-looking India of the ’60s and ’70s that blamed the US and the West for its own ills, the new India is self-assured about its ability to deal with the West as well as the rest. We hope some of this confidence rubs off on the DAE, which has complicated the last minute negotiations on the nuclear separation plan by reflecting all the fears of the past. The positive Indian sentiment towards Bush also instinctively captures the changing strategic dynamics now shaping a new Indo-US partnership. For all the demonisation of Bush, it is his personal beliefs that have forced a paradigm shift in America’s approach to India.

No previous American president has been more favourable to India than Bush on the three big political issues that matter to Delhi — terrorism, J&K and nuclear cooperation. No wonder New Delhi has done more political business with Washington in the five years of the Bush administration than in the previous 50. While liberals in America continue to denounce the nuclear deal, and worry about Indian threat to US jobs, Bush has stood by three basic convictions — a prosperous India would also let America maintain economic growth, a rising India will stabilise global balance of power, and Indian democracy is part of the long-term antidote to terrorism. All three are music to India, which aspires to become a great power. While the world would have eventually accommodated a rising India’s aspirations, Bush has chosen, through his own personal interest, to accelerate India’s emergence. No wonder, then, mainstream India is ready to say “howdy”.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; bushvisit; friends; india; indiavisit; newhorizons; usindiaties; waronterror; wot
Interesting to see how the wretched MSM in America and Europe is concentrating on some minor protests by muslims ad communists (the usual culprits). As the author indicates in this article, mainstream India (minus the moonbats) is thrilled with Pres. Bush's visit. In fact, friends in India tell me that the country is in a celebratory mood because it considers Pres. Bush to be a true and honest friend.

For a detailed analysis of Indian attitudes toward the US, Pres. Bush, Iraq, and the WoT, click here for an FR thread that was posted earlier today.

And how does the MSM react to this obvious warm feelings toward the US? Here is an example: the International Herald Tribune's (owned by New York Times) headline is "Huge crowds in India rally against Bush visit."

No wonder some prominent Indian commentators refuse to trust the American MSM.
1 posted on 03/01/2006 5:40:19 PM PST by indcons
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To: indcons

Thank for this posting.
Sent it to all my conservative friends.


2 posted on 03/01/2006 5:48:08 PM PST by ConservativeGreek
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To: indcons


The Sink Emperor also spured protests

http://in.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/19demo.htm

Demonstrations keep Delhi police busy

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Hours before the United States President Bill Clinton arrived in India on a five-day trip, both supporters and opponents of the visit took out processions in different parts of the city.

Some Azadi Bachao Andolan activists burnt an effigy of Clinton at Shaheed Bhagat Singh terminal at ITO this afternoon, while a group of Tibetans took out a procession at Jantar Mantar welcoming the President.

The ITO demonstration was led by Swami Agniwesh, Raghu Takhur and Shamat. They accused Clinton of being a symbol of American imperialism.

"He represents the evil forces of the World Trade Organisation, the International Monitary Fund and the World Bank who are out to destroy the Indian economy," said Agniwesh.

Raghu Thakur said the forces of globalisation that Clinton represents are pressurising India to follow the rules set by a clutch of Western countries.

The Tibetans, on other hand, praised Clinton for taking important initiatives to solve the Tibet dispute with China. They urged the US President to appoint a special co-ordinator for Tibetan affairs to facilitate negotiations between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership.

CLINTON VISITS INDIA :The complete coverage


3 posted on 03/01/2006 5:49:17 PM PST by UB355
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To: indcons

Thank you for keeping us informed on our President's trip via Indian news agencies. We all know the American ENEMEDIA can not be trusted.


4 posted on 03/01/2006 6:00:39 PM PST by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN - Support our troops. I *LOVE* my attitude problem! Beware the Enemedia.)
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To: Gengis Khan

Ping for your list


5 posted on 03/01/2006 6:44:55 PM PST by indcons (Beware of muslims bearing gifts (apologies to Homer))
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To: indcons

99% of the Indians who hate Bush are Muslims or Communists.


6 posted on 03/01/2006 7:17:45 PM PST by Democratshavenobrains
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To: Democratshavenobrains

Excellent point. Probably true in other places as well.


7 posted on 03/01/2006 7:57:22 PM PST by Aaron_A
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To: Aaron_A

Agreed!


8 posted on 03/01/2006 8:28:42 PM PST by Frank_2001
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To: indcons

Lone Ranger Bump


9 posted on 03/01/2006 8:30:59 PM PST by Loud Mime (Republicans protect Americans from terrorists, Democrats protect terrorists from Americans)
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To: Loud Mime

Thanks for the bump. I agree, BTW. Pres. Bush is a lone ranger indeed; history will recognize him for his leadership in the WOT and for forging stronger ties with India despite distrust among the leftists in the US State Dept.


10 posted on 03/01/2006 8:48:42 PM PST by indcons (Beware of muslims bearing gifts (apologies to Homer))
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To: ConservativeGreek

You're welcome....glad you liked it. BTW, the MSM's headlines have been typically negative. The best analysis of the president's visit is from Indian and Asian web sites.


11 posted on 03/01/2006 8:49:58 PM PST by indcons (Beware of muslims bearing gifts (apologies to Homer))
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To: indcons
Paul Johnson said a few months ago that India should be very important for US foreign policy.

After about 50 years of socialism, it looks like the country has finally gotten its act together. One thing that did it for them was telecommunications of course. There was intense fighting by the telecommunications unions not to modernize, but India had to due to foreign pressures and internal pressures. It did, and that opened the floodgates for offshoring.

They've still got a ways to go, of course, but they are making progress.

12 posted on 03/01/2006 8:55:15 PM PST by Koblenz (Holland: a very tolerant country. Until someone shoots you on a public street in broad daylight...)
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To: Koblenz

Very thorought (and accurate) analyis....can't say I disagree with anything that you wrote.


13 posted on 03/01/2006 9:10:31 PM PST by indcons (Beware of muslims bearing gifts (apologies to Homer))
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To: Democratshavenobrains

The rest are liberal idiots...


14 posted on 03/01/2006 10:11:55 PM PST by Cronos (Remember 9/11. Restore Hagia Sophia! Ultra-Catholic: Sola Scriptura leads to solo scriptura.)
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