tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post5045244789128831600..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: India caught in the crossfire as US Congress squeezes Trump on RussiaBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-53299749817376050082018-05-14T15:14:39.722-07:002018-05-14T15:14:39.722-07:00If I may be permitted to respond to some of the co...If I may be permitted to respond to some of the comments.<br /><br />(1) Anon is right, an exception will be made for India<br />(2) No one has any idea how S400 will work out.<br />(3) For the $1-billion/battery that I believe we are paying for S400, we could buy US THAAD, which I'm willing to bet is a much more advanced system than S400<br />(4) Are we never going to learn that when Russia offers us a cut-rate deal they make it up by shafting us for years and years.<br />(5) Please let the IAF speak the truth on the SU-30. I leave it to our many and esteemed investigative journalists to find the details, it is not my place to speak.<br />(6) Lets be truthful with ourselves: would we have accepted US tenders for frigates and destroyers.<br /><br />I agree we should not depend on others for weapons. But we've blown it for 50-years, IA/IAF are sitting on the largest junk heap in the world, so what do we do now? (China is rapidly replacing obsolete equipment, they used to have the biggest junk heap)Ravihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01028420171993289655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-7787782247346186532018-05-13T04:33:37.270-07:002018-05-13T04:33:37.270-07:00Sitharaman visited the Russian delegation at Defex...Sitharaman visited the Russian delegation at Defexpo. Multiple pictures to the effect. So can you let us know why you are running a propaganda news campaign?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-20922082920994847972018-05-09T20:24:39.924-07:002018-05-09T20:24:39.924-07:00In contrast to pessimists, US Congress will respon...In contrast to pessimists, US Congress will respond by granting the waiver required for CAATSA to accommodate India's relationship with Russia. CAATSA was drafted, as the author says, without consideration of India. This extraordinary step would be a very clear sign of US prioritization of India. S400 is not about money. For the US, Russia is a belligerant. This is a litmus test of US ability to transcend domestic politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-41967642534213118362018-05-09T02:24:21.470-07:002018-05-09T02:24:21.470-07:00Indian govt. Needs to seriously wake up and start ...Indian govt. Needs to seriously wake up and start putting India first. US will back stab us the same way they backstabbed pakis. That too in just less than a few years. The more equipment we buy from them, more vulnerable we are in case of real testing times. <br /><br />We need to understand and realise that Russia has always stood with us.<br /><br />It's high time we start to make a real attempt defence equipment ourselves.<br /><br />All this hogwash of make in india propaganda has to go...and something serious has to happen....else we are digging our own grave!!anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18445873950328661806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-18306107914043202252018-05-09T00:00:06.189-07:002018-05-09T00:00:06.189-07:00The world police force of US should dictate terms ...The world police force of US should dictate terms if they are in a position to support the way Russia does. US did not even respond to the FRCV or 75(I) RFIs. And they don't have a missile system as capable as S400. So how can they tell India not to buy it. <br />The actual truth is that if CAATSA is implemented, US has more to lose than India. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17808522994745472695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-16736020107908483432018-05-08T06:29:09.274-07:002018-05-08T06:29:09.274-07:00The US is an unpredictable security partner, subje...The US is an unpredictable security partner, subject to the whims of the day. Time for Mr Modi to stop the public bromance with Trump and settle down to a more balanced approach. The old policy of non alignment was a good one; even when we were a much poorer and weaker nation we kept our autonomy of decision making. If we have any self respect we will go ahead with the S-400 purchase regardless of CAATSA. The US will hopefully have little difficulty realizing where it’s interests lie....but if they want to shoot themselves in the foot then so be it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-65401507041236032622018-05-07T20:52:13.688-07:002018-05-07T20:52:13.688-07:00I'd dare say that CAATSA has become a convenie...I'd dare say that CAATSA has become a convenient excuse for India's security establishment to further pare back on Russian defence purchases. India has not made a platform buy since the 42 CKDs for Su-30 MKI in 2012. And that was long before CAATSA was conceived. Yet, CAATSA is a good wake up call for India to always keep its national security policy ring fenced from domestic upheavals in US and the Americans themselves at an arms length. Expect this to be another storm in the tea-cup (or cup-of-joe as the Americans prefer). Else, I'd watch how long India keeps participating in Malabar exercises; an obvious casualty one can expect should the US press ahead with sanctioning India! Meanwhile, the upshot of sanctions is often increased self-reliance; and that is not a bad thing at all!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com