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Pre-emptive strikes by India not acceptable: US

PTI [ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2002 09:58:18 AM ]

WASHINGTON: The White House on Wednesday suggested that pre-emptive attacks are permissible for the US against Iraq but the same logic does not hold for India which is fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism or for China which wants to reunify with Taiwan.
Asked whether it would be lawful if India adopted the US administration's policy of pre-emptive attack, vis-a-vis Pakistan, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said different policies work in different parts of the world.
"What is different is the unique history of Iraq. Different policies work in different parts of the world, and different doctrines work at different times and in different regions because of the local circumstances," he said.

TOI comment:
This is typical of the double-standards adopted by the US in its foreign policy, driven as it is exclusively by self-interest. Don’t look for consistency, norms, or values whatsoever – it’s pure and simple self-centeredness. Where pre-emptive strikes suit them, they are allowed; where they don't, they’re not.

There is only one dictum that can describe this approach: Might is right.

It is in the interest of the US to ensure that India and Pakistan don’t go to war in order to carry on uninterrupted operations against the al-Qaeda. When it comes to Iraq, Saddam Hussein needs to be eliminated – means don’t matter.
 
Nonsense

I am appalled about the pre-emptive strike rhetoric going around in India. Would any Indian want a Paki nuke to explode in their backyard? If the answer is no, then war is out of the question.

Sure, the Bushes and the Thackerays talk about war all the time. But ask them to face a bullet in the frontline and let's see if they can without peeing in their pants!

When it comes to the US attacking Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam etc, they take comfort in the fact that their land is so far away for any attack from weapons of mass destruction. We all saw how they handled China recently, and Russia throughout the Cold War. If you are not circumspect about your enemy's might, then you stand to lose in a war, my friend. So says Sun Tzu!

In fact, if there is a lesson India has to learn from the US, it is the tactics used during the Cold War to bring the Red Army down. Go covert and strike hard economically at the same time. If India uses the same approach with Pakistan (which, incidentally is exactly what Pakistan is trying to achieve by constantly bleeding India's wealth and strength with their quasi-covert terrorist-aided proxy war), then it too would accomplish the task of dismantling Pakistan. HOWEVER, then the world must be ready to face the problem of Paki nukes in the hands of the Mullah's and their uncles!

Now, I don't know which one's better: Musharraf holding the triggers or some hate-filled Mullah getting his hands on the nuclear command and control of Pakistan. I have a strong feeling that most people in this world would favor the former for as long as possible.

If I touched a nerve or two by writing that, so be it. I'd rather be facing an irate patron on this forum than a nuclear holocaust.
 
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