12-04-2004, 09:37 AM
A US offer Delhi can't refuse
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> NEW DELHI - US President George W Bush's first tenure was good for India, and Bush II promises to be even better, with the United States formally offering a range of military hardware, including an anti-missile radar system and maritime spy planes, to India. The offer includes the much-touted Patriot anti-missile defense system that tackles aircraft and also tactical and cruise missiles, C-130 stretched medium-lift transport aircraft, P-3C Orion maritime surveillance planes, and even F-16 fighters. The US has also offered Perry-class frigates and Sea Hawk helicopters, while special-operations forces will be looking at chemical and biological protection equipment. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Very well. Some of this is probably hype. But the reaction to this was ..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Russia, meanwhile, is far from impressed with the deal. On Tuesday, officials told Delhi that Moscow would no longer transfer any high-technology defense system to India without a pact to protect intellectual property rights, and said India's bid to buy the United States' Patriot anti-missile system would not work on Russian-supplied platforms.
"If India will not fully honor our interests, then there is no need to attach strings, conditions and demands from Russia not to trade [in arms] with Pakistan," an unnamed Russian Defense Ministry source was quoted as saying by the state-run RIA Novosti agency, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
Pointing out that currently, at the request of India, Moscow is not cooperating with Islamabad in the defense sector, the official said that if India does not keep Russia's interests in mind, military ties with Pakistan can be resumed. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In other words.. Ruskies are saying "you are my b1tch". Now I get this UNSC member without veto BS !!
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> NEW DELHI - US President George W Bush's first tenure was good for India, and Bush II promises to be even better, with the United States formally offering a range of military hardware, including an anti-missile radar system and maritime spy planes, to India. The offer includes the much-touted Patriot anti-missile defense system that tackles aircraft and also tactical and cruise missiles, C-130 stretched medium-lift transport aircraft, P-3C Orion maritime surveillance planes, and even F-16 fighters. The US has also offered Perry-class frigates and Sea Hawk helicopters, while special-operations forces will be looking at chemical and biological protection equipment. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Very well. Some of this is probably hype. But the reaction to this was ..
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Russia, meanwhile, is far from impressed with the deal. On Tuesday, officials told Delhi that Moscow would no longer transfer any high-technology defense system to India without a pact to protect intellectual property rights, and said India's bid to buy the United States' Patriot anti-missile system would not work on Russian-supplied platforms.
"If India will not fully honor our interests, then there is no need to attach strings, conditions and demands from Russia not to trade [in arms] with Pakistan," an unnamed Russian Defense Ministry source was quoted as saying by the state-run RIA Novosti agency, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
Pointing out that currently, at the request of India, Moscow is not cooperating with Islamabad in the defense sector, the official said that if India does not keep Russia's interests in mind, military ties with Pakistan can be resumed. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In other words.. Ruskies are saying "you are my b1tch". Now I get this UNSC member without veto BS !!