Gurdur

I'ld just like to issue a note of warning here:

Do not be in such a hurry to dismiss Hinduwoman's concerns.

The USA long had an implicit allience with Pakistan against India; should the USA admin in its bottemless stupidity decide Pakistan as an ally against tehr Moslem nations in the Middle East is worth it, it may well take actions against India if it sees India being too much of a threat to Pakistan.

Blixy Sticks

Seems to me , as well.

Optional

My boss is actually hoping that we invade India next.

I'm a programming consultant, BTW.

He's hoping we nuke all them damn indian outsourcees.

-me

Blixy Sticks

Just out of curiosity, what sort of actions might the U.S. take against India? Certainly, not the same actions we have taken in Iraq. Perhaps, multiple years of sanctions until the country is weakened to the point where we can march right in? What do think, especially considering the technical knowledge (computer programming, et al.) India's populace possesses and the ramifications of the loss of such as it relates to American Business concerns?

Hubble head

There is also the UK-India and US by default axis. I think the new Washingtion admires their Brave New World society too.

Their military capacity, not including their current police forces, numbers in the 250-280 million man range. They have a real Air Force and Navy too.

A slap on the hand sanction as money flows under the table is the worst they would get from us but in this day and age of god-appointed leaders believing mass violence and death is still a viable a solution to disagreements so who knows?

Gurdur

Let's get down to tacheles, Hubble Head.

The problem is Pakistan's support of militant Islamic terrorists in the Kashmir and in Afghanistan, and also regular incursions of Pakistani troops into the Kashmir, as well as regular shelling across the border.
Afghanistan doesn't worry India too much, but there is that 50-year-long war in Kashmir, which is of course more than somewhat annoying to India.

The next problem is Pakistan's nuclear capacity.
What is India's answer ?
Realistically, the only thing that will settle the whole situation would be strikes against Pakistan's nuclear delivery mechanisms.
Given the risks, nuclear strikes might be in order.
Followed up by a conventional war to destroy a good part of Pakistan's army and to render the border safe.
There is no other practical solution in sight; what happens now is that it simply drags on.

Washington thinks it needs Pakistan. It doesn't need India. Therefore Washington might well be seriously tempted to make pre-emptive strikes against India's nuclear-delivery capacities if it looked like India might make a move on Pakistan.

Blixy Sticks

And at what point do certain other forgotten players draw the line, i.e. Russia and China? I would think that at some point, either of these countries may say, enough is enough. If you take this imperialistic stance any further, we have no choice but to intervene.

This scenario is what makes me most nervous and it is my greatest fear. A regional conflict quickly becomes a global conflict.

Hubble head

No need to fill me in on the Kashmir situation or nukes. You draw your arm chair military expert conclusion and I'll draw mine. Neither of us knows how deep or shallow all the affected national alliances are anyway. I wonder why everyone is so convinced that just because a nation (other than US/UK) has nukes, it will always use them?

I'd still bet on no one invaded for at least a few years. Certainly surgical "terrorist camp" bombings, but no troops for awhile unless we're really attacked is my best guess.

PsycheDelia

i would hope to goodness that india's leaders know that an attack on pakistan would only increase islamist terrorism in the country. unlike the united states for whom international terrorism is a fairly new phenomenon, india has lived through numerous terrorist attacks including the bombay blasts in 93 which was probably the worst act urban terrorism till sept 10 2001.

then again, it might just be wishful thinking on my part to assume that india will exercise restraint, and that the usa will not use aggression in that part of the world....

Gurdur

eh ? eh ?? Pardon me ??
How could it possibly increase Pakistani-sponsored terrorism more ?

You are aware of how much it has cost India in human lives already ---- IMHO, Indian restraint simply tends to play into Pakistani hands.