The proverbial velvet glove of the American Administration seems to be slowly slipping away to reveal the iron hand underneath. In the last decade the US of A has deteriorated to a Nation of paranoid administrators, and conspiracy theorists who see a terrorist lurking behind every skirt and under every head gear. Mohamed Atta had his team have destroyed much more than the twin towers of the world trade center on that fateful day, they seem to have ripped apart the very fabric of American society. No where is this more apparent than the aggressive “us” vs. “them” ideology of the American Administration.
The change in American policy and outlook can be summarized in two words “pre emptive annihilation”. It was started by George Bush Jr leading his country in the first crusade against terror in Afghanistan, followed by the misadventure in Iraq, and has culminated into body searches and pat downs that have not spared even diplomats and visiting foreign dignitaries.
The concretization of this mindset can be seen in the US of A’s response to Wikileaks, a band of computer whiz kids and journalists. The American politburo, cutting across party lines has been baying for the blood of Julian Assange, editor in chief Wikileaks, Republican leader Sarah Palin has likened Assange to an al-Qaida operative, Newt Gingrich has dubbed him an information terrorist and Mike Huckabee has called for his execution. The Democrats are not far behind, they want him charged under the U.S. espionage act, and are calling for the law to be changed to allow a prosecution of WikiLeaks. Leaders, army officials, and other public figures threaten dire consequences and even call for Assange's assassination.
The US has launched a multi fronted financial, political, diplomatic and plain old threats and coercion, attack on Wikileaks. Julian Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden. Paypal, Visa and Mastercard have stopped processing donations to the website, allegedly after Congressional staffers and leaders in Government called up these companies and threatened them.
US has arm twisted several nations and world policing organizations to fall in line chiefly France, Switzerland, and Sweden. Sweden has been pressurized into filing a criminal case and issuing an international arrest warrant on the basis of an obscure law drawing on an alleged incident of 'condom breaking during intercourse' against Assange, and Interpol has been prevailed upon to issue a 'Red Corner' notice for the same 'crime!!! Under pressure from the US, French industry minister Eric Besson has allegedly written to internet companies warning them of “consequences” for dealing with WikiLeaks.
But what is worrying for the world community is the American “us” vs. “them” policy that views all countries toeing the American line no matter what their track record example Pakistan favorably while coercing other free thinking Nations like India to fall in with the American thinking. The design of the American Administration to control and manipulate the world bodies is out in the open, diplomats including envoys to the UN and are spied upon and installations vital to US interests monitored.
More ominous is the fact that the US today does not shy away from openly threatening countries like India to toe the US line. US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia Robert O Blake has publicly suggested that India's voting pattern at the United Nations Security Council during its forthcoming two-year term commencing January would have a bearing on India's prospects of realizing its bid to become a permanent member. He pointed out that records show that India voted only 10 percent of the time alongside the US on important issues at the world body. He then added, 'Over time that is going to change. That is going to change not because of pressure of the United States, but because of India's own desire to take up greater global responsibilities. That would surely be reflected in its voting record.'
Robert Blake’s statement is the bugle cry for India to be ever vigilant in its dealings with the US and be wary of falling into the honey trap of a permanent non voting seat in the UNSC laid down by President Obama. In the last half century India has attained a stature far beyond any emerging Nation can hope to aspire to as a Non aligned state. No amount of military support, nuclear technology transfer or the aspired to permanent seat in the Security Council is worth the price of pledging India’s sovereignty.
by Neera Kishore
courtesy: Hindi Milap, Hyderabad
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