National Shame

The entire nation was put to shame today as a spineless Prime Minister informed the American establishment of his incompetence in getting the 1-2-3 Nuclear Agreement Ratified in this country. It was a rather odd moment in international diplomacy. The most powerful nation in the world makes unprecedented concessions for an emerging powerhouse of a country and months later the reply is : "Oops, we're not yet ready!"

The next natural question that the world would be asking India is: "If you weren't ready for this, why did you ask for it in the first place?" I mean how many times does a cowboy president take personal interest in international relations and oversees the ratification of a pact by congress personally? If there ever was a deal served on a platter in the international diplomatic arena, this was it. It was the ultimate case of indulgent spoon-feeding. Only this time the kid wasn't ready.

There would be a number of nations sniggering behind curtains at India's faux pas. China and Pakistan would be leading this gang. If there's anyone who stands to gain through India's blunder, it's them. China would have gauged the impact on the Indian economy for not being able to secure a cheap source of energy for the future. Pakistan- well, they're happy for the smallest of Indian failures; this one would have called for a party.

I have always been critical of the left. My cynicism has been proved correct. They are the real enemies of this nation- megalomaniacs living in the eighteenth century, who believe in defeatist policies and paleolithic ideals. The left in India has always aped the communists of other nations. It's only deliciously ironic though that the very communist nations that the Indian leftists are aping have discarded these policies as old-fashioned. Both China and Russia have moved on to embrace market economies, having relinquished significant state control over markets.

The left in India is a typical case of power without responsibility. The Left is cocky enough to hold the government to ransom over crucial issues, but they're not virile enough to participate in the government and be held accountable for their actions. They've been eating their cake and having it. And the government of India has been fatuous enough to grant them their tantrums.

The only face-saver though is the gesture on the part of the US, acknowledging the refusal of the deal as an act of political compulsion on behalf of India. They still hope that the deal will be pushed through next year. It's time to get back to work and put our own house in order before demanding nuclear supplies again.