Thursday, November 05, 2009

George Bush, Indian Hero

nov 5th, 2009

whether bush is an indian hero is a debatable thing. 

but sonia has a world view, enlightened or otherwise? that is, something distinct from the vatican's? 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Raja

Sonia's "enlightened world view"?  Shouldn't Nature set an
upper bound for ass kissing?


----- Forwarded Message ----
> From: Info <info@comma.in>
> To: Info <info@comma.in>
> Sent: Sun, November 1, 2009 11:25:37 PM
> Subject: George Bush, Indian Hero
>
>
> This article is from the blog res gestae (www.rajivndesai.blogspot.com
> )
>
>
> you can reach the person managing the list at info@comma.in
>
>
> Saturday, October 31, 2009
>
>
> Delhi Journal
>
>
>
>
> George Bush, Indian Hero
>
>
>
> At a recent event in the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, I found myself with
> my arm around his waist and his arm around my shoulder, posed for a photo
> opportunity. George W Bush, the much reviled former President of the United
> States, was in an expansive mood that evening. Aside of his "base" in
> America, this was fawning that had to be seen to be believed. He is the
> unquestioned hero of India's elite. A senior member of the ruling Congress
> party said he would recommend him for the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian
> award.
>
>
>
> In his early sixties, Bush is sprightly and amazingly friendly. He mingled
> with guests and stayed on to have what I consider the Taj's most fabulous
> spread. Bush has been a divisive item in my immediate family and my friends
> in America. They hate him for the "shock and awe" bombing of Iraq; his
> assent for the atrocities in Guantanamo. It is truly terrible. For me
> though, those are American problems. Why should I get worked up about it?
>
>
>
> Having worked closely with the US mission in Delhi and the Prime Minister to
> steer the Indo-US civil nuclear deal to its completion, I was proud to shake
> hands with him, be photographed with him. Bush, for India, has been the best
> ever US President. Bill Clinton, whom the Indian establishment still
> admires, set the trend. Bush accomplished what seems to have not occurred to
> Clinton. He brought India into the global mainstream. If Richard Nixon is
> held in esteem for opening China, Bush should be acclaimed for his outreach
> to India.
>
>
>
> "President Bush, thank you for your support," I said to him. Hated, reviled
> and caricatured among my liberal intellectual and activist friends in the
> US, Bush to me has been an icon; he overcame the traditional US highbrow
> establishment's "attitude" about India. Between my friends in the US embassy
> in Delhi and in the Prime Minister's office, we worked to see the deal
> through. It wouldn't have happened without the unflagging support of Bush
> and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
>
>
>
> With the Prime Minister committed to the deal, the diplomats in the US
> Embassy in Delhi led from the front. They overcame bureaucratic hurdles on
> both sides to push the deal. We always knew there would be opposition. For
> one thing, there was the Left, a key supporter of the Congress-led UPA
> government. It was also not very clear that the Congress Party was
> enthusiastic about the deal. Once assured of US support, the Prime Minister
> put his government on the line and the Congress Party fell in line thanks to
> Sonia Gandhi's enlightened world view.
>
>
>
> In the event, much drama happened. There was a vote in Parliament and the
> deal was sealed. Of course, Dr Singh is the hero and Sonia Gandhi, who
> backed him. Nobody can, however, deny that Bush's enamored view of India was
> the driving force. Not to forget, the Congress managed to win another term
> in 2009.
>
>
>
> That's why I was thrilled to meet him, never mind that my friends in America
> won't talk to me. They may have questions about Bush; for India, he is the
> greatest US President ever. It showed that evening.
>
> Copyright Rajiv Desai 2009
>
> Bookmark and Share
>
> Posted by Rajiv N Desai at
> 1:35 AM 0
>
> 557060851098>  comments
>
> 18557060851098>
>
> 8557060851098>
>
> Labels: Goerge Bush
> , incredible
>   india,
> indo-us
>
> al>  civil nuclear deal, manmohan
>   singh

No comments: