Forget D-Punjab, Times of India applauds Obama

[BeyondGeography]

and pans Washington's "old guard":

<The freshman Senator, who has been disparaged about his lack of foreign policy experience, also warned that the US should not turn a blind eye to upcoming elections in Pakistan that may not be free or fair, saying "our goal is not simply an ally in Pakistan, it is a democratic ally."

His blunt remarks immediately set off a damage control exercise from Washington's old guard that experts say has been protective of Pakistan as a client state at the expense of its people.>

<...Even Obama's Democratic colleagues in the Senate who are old hands at Washington's delicate foreign policy imperatives rejected his direct action remarks.

Senators Joseph Biden and Christopher Dodd, both long-shot challengers to the Democratic nomination behind Hillary Clinton and Obama, suggested they favoured the administration's nuanced policy of supporting Pakistan in public while squeezing it in private to deliver in the war on terror. >

<...Such direct action remarks, following up similar comments from homeland security and intelligence officials, drove Pakistan to familiar hysteria.>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Obamas_Pak_quips_stir_up_storm_in_US/articleshow/2251820.cms

[rinsd]

1. This is surprising? India and Pakistan are mortal enemies.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Note thread title: Those who may have been previously offended may reconsider

A small point in the great scheme of things, but that's what we're here for, isn't it?

[rinsd]

6. Gotcha.

It could help. Though I think his apology after the memo came out went along way to healing any hurt feelings.

[MADem]

2. Well, DUH....enemy of my enemy, and all that. NT

[draft_mario_cuomo]

4. Of course Indians will like him since Pakistan is their rival. However, Indian-AMERICANS will...

...not change their views because of this. I know some Obama supporters had trouble understanding the "American" part during memogate. Brown people, just like everyone else (i.e. Kenyans running for president...), do not pick their positions based on the interests of a foreign nation.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Well, we know Mario won't

however, I doubt you know ALL Indian-Americans.

At least you got the point of the thread though.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

7. Most won't

Of course, you were likely one of those who assumed the memo did not do any damage to Obama in the first place. After all, a memo from a presidential candidate smearing an opponent for her support among an ethnic group is no big deal. :eyes: Even South Asians for Obama denounced the memo...

[BeyondGeography]

8. Yep, BG was wrong on the memo

but I distinctly recall those who had it right posting negative press reports on Obama from India to back up their position.

Perspective from India would seem to matter after all to Indian-Americans.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

10. Obama is running for president of America, not India

Surely the man running on "unity" does not want to write off 2 million Americans. ;) Perspective from India would matter to some but not matter to other Indian-Americans. In the end 99% will vote as Americans, on American interests, etc.

Obama could say anything about Indians or Indian-Americans but as long as he was "tough" on Pakistan, Indians would love him.

P.S. Guess which world leader is the most popular in India...

[BeyondGeography]

11. John Edwards?

Just kidding...they love Bill Clinton over there.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

12. lol good one. The answer is George W. Bush

So as that shows you, they will like any foreign politician as long as they think what he/she is doing helps India.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

9. Just like Israel applauds Lieberman for wanting war with Muslims, let Americans fight their battle

Unless the operation is a specific surgical strike of short duration with an immediate withdrawal, an invasion of Pakistan would be a horrible mistake, making war against a third Muslim nation could be a catastrophic geo-political mistake.

[PurityOfEssence]

13. Oh, great: Obama's pissed off Pakistan and now India's happy about it

That's productive.

Are we going to continue hearing from the extremists among Obama's camp that this really isn't a big deal? IT'S A BIG DEAL!

When was the last time a primary candidate stirred up an international flap like this?

Let's see: two MAJOR and dangerous missteps in one week; keeping up that pace, he will have made more than 40 whoppers before a vote is even cast. That's a lot of scratching he'll have to do.

[BeyondGeography]

14. Yep, the world's comin' to an end because Obama will strike high-value terrorist targets

with conventional weapons and, if necessary, troops, and, unlike some of his opponents, he has sworn not to use nuclear weapons in the process.

I can see how people are losing sleep over this.

[killbotfactory]

15. I know, it's like the whole world's gone crazy over Obama's remarks

When will Obama learn that we have to tailor our pursuit of terrorists to please the radical islamists protecting him?