India: Between Iraq and a hard place, Govt to say no

[Nambe]

Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

New Delhi, July 13: Unnerved by the possibility of casualties in Iraq in an election year, the BJP-led NDA Government is believed to have decided not to send combat troops to maintain peace in northern Iraq. The meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) here tomorrow morning to decide on the issue is now believed to be a mere formality.

Whatever spin the CCS puts on its decision, the fact is that New Delhi’s inability to arrive at a domestic consensus to send troops finally broke the back of those who had been arguing in favour of such a foreign policy gamble. ---

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[oneighty]

1. Good.

India has enough problems right now. 400,000 flooded out of their homes.

I cannot even imagine that many people. Sad

IMHO

Ed

[Cha]

2. So in the end they decided not to go!..

I know they said because of "possible casualities in an election time"...but what must they know?
Because they seemingly had so many benefits to outweigh the negatives?

[Gloria]

3. Check out the new WMW just posted for an article on India and how

they are very PISSED OFF at how the Pentagon has denigrated their army and tried to drive a wedge between India and China!! And how "bit by bit" anti-Americanism is growing in India!!!!

http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical and just up at LBN...under "Fraser/Slavish" headline

[ichiro99]

4. Too bad for the troops (theirs) ...

Indians were keen on joining the alliance. Fewer 'potshots' to dodge than in Kashmir, coming from a life's-cheap culture milieu anyway, a thousand bucks a month mercenary pay. Match made in heaven.

[varun]

5. I told you so...

India could not send its troops to Iraq without having discussed this in the parliament where there was opposition to this idea from the left and the right.

It would be easier to tempt Pakistanis (Musharraf has already promised several thousand troops to Iraq) where decisions are made by a dictator, not the people.