Why Indian Americans should not vote for Bush?

Bush rhetoric is to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of rogue nations and terrorist groups. At the same time, how pathetic was his administration’s agreement with Pakistan to pardon Pakistani nuclear scientist Kahn even after the news of Kahn’s black marketing of nuclear secrets. Once again, Bush actions speak louder than his empty slogans.

Bush and Mush Nexus

Why the Bush Admin. is silent on nuclear proliferation and why it has sent mixed signals? Simply because of the ties with the Saudi kingdom are personal as well as political. Times of India (03/13/04) reported that "in the past fortnight by the British and French foreign ministers, next week’s visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Musharraf’s sudden visit to Riyadh at the weekend have triggered speculation that the pressure is on Musharraf to let foreign troops in." That is why Muharraf went to Saudi Arabia to consult with Saudi officials about the Bin Laden-Kahn quid pro quo?

The hasty visit had something to do with a nuclear deal reportedly struck by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last October: "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have concluded a secret agreement on "nuclear cooperation" that will provide the Saudis with nuclear-weapons technology in exchange for cheap oil, according to a ranking Pakistani insider....." (Wash. Times, 10/22/03)

Given this scenario, Masharraf’s visit to Saudi Arabia was likely meant to convince the Saudis to put pressure upon Bush to back off his pressure on Masharraf to allow military access into Northern Pakistan to hunt down and capture Bin Laden prior to the November election. The danger of nuclear proliferation appears to be taking a back seat to Bush’s political expediency at the expense of our national security.

Friend or Foe

How can Indians in general trust and vote for the friends and buddies of Mush? Bush administration in particular and Republicans in general have always been favorable in having stronger ties with the military junta of Pakistan at the expense of India. Although the foreign policy of US remains constant irrespective of the party, democrats have generally been sympathetic with Indian point of view. It was during Kennedy, Carter and Clinton administrations that there was a visible shift in the US stance Vis a Vis Indo-Pak relation. Why Indians forget that it was during the Republican administration that US referred to the Kashmiri terrorists/militants as Freedom fighters. They always demand India to have a dialogue with the militants. Can US ever imagine having a dialogue with Bin Laden or Taliban?

We as Indians do not want Pakistan continue getting Billions in aid on the pretext of capturing Bin Laden. George Bush has pledged $3bn in aid to Pakistan in return for its help in the fight against global terrorism.The $3bn package, is in addition to the cancellation of $1bn in debts owed by Pakistan.

At a joint news conference at the president’s Maryland retreat, Mr Bush said such measures were a sign of the increasingly close ties between the two nations. "Today, our two nations are working together closely on common challenges. Both the United States and Pakistan are threatened by global terror, and we’re determined to defeat it. Pakistan’s support was essential in our campaign against the Taliban," Bush said.

This money in turn is used to support the efforts of cross border terrorism in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. There are no good terrorists and bad terrorists. Terrorist is a terrorist and only Bush is capable of getting fooled by Mush in believing that he is fighting alongside with him. The roots of terrorism are at this time temporarily dormant, but being nourished in Pakistan and this arrogant administration is busy in cleaning their misadventures mess in Iraq and blindfolded of the looming dangers of Nukes in Pakistan. How misguided and stupid belief of this admisnistration that both US & Pakistan are threatened by global terror? It is like telling the thief to gaurd your house.

Outsourcing and India

Indians have a lot of concerns on Kerry’s remarks on outsourcing. Do you believe that outsourcing is really good for India in general? Outsourcing is hurting India than helping. It may be helping a few companies in US and in India, but it has resulted in stoppage of so many Indians getting H1 visa’s to come to this country at decent wages. Have we forgotten as to how many Indians had oppertunity to come to this country on H1 visa during 1998 to 2001? India will not benefit from cheap low-class low-wage data-entry or clerical jobs, but investment in manufacturing and Industrial sectors. Manufacturing plants are being opened in China not in India, so do not get fooled by these cheap jobs coming to India. Private sector companies will not be affected by the Kerry plan, only those who get Gevernment contracts will be affected. Even now Government contracts do allow only Made in USA products in the government bids, so why double standard when it comes to jobs. Indians should be wise and should not get fooled by the rheotric of fear tactics.

Influence of Christian Right on Bush

"When I said during my presidential bid that I would only bring Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm. `What do you mean?’ the media challenged me. `You’re not going to bring atheists into the government? How dare you maintain that those who believe in the Judeo-Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims?’ My simple answer is, `Yes, they are.’ (From Pat Robertson’s "The New World Order,")

The Christian right has a direct influence within the Republican Party. Republicans continue to attend the meetings of the National Religious Broadcasters, exhorting the broadcasting troops to support his or her cause. This influence, which is firmly based on the network of evangelicals and fundamentalists, will continue to have a political presence with Bush administration. Many items on the Christian right’s agenda focus on "family values," a term used throughout their literature. Family values became the primary rallying cry for the religious right as if they alone are champions of good moral values.

Disturbingly, Bush has stated repeatedly that he was "called" by God to run for president. Veteran journalist Bob Woodward noted, "The President was casting his mission and that of the country in the grand vision of God’s Master Plan," wherein he promised, in his own words, "to export death and violence to the four corners of the earth in defense of this great country and rid the world of evil." In short, President Bush believes that he has accepted the responsibility of leading the free world as part of God’s plan. He even told then-Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas that "God told me to strike al-Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did." Iraq has become the new Babylon, and the "war on terrorism" has succeeded the Cold War with the Soviet Union as the quintessential battle between good and evil. In the eyes of the Christian Right—the Bush Doctrine and the expansion of American military and economic power is all part of a divine plan.

The close affinity between the Christian Right and the Bush administration is evident and not a secret. We as Indian Americans and more so as HinduAmericans have a moral responsibility not to support those who support fundamentalist Christians. We as Hindus have alredy suffered persecution in India for many centuries. We are proud to live in this great nation which like India is a secular country and believes in separation of church and state. We do not want our children to recite Christian prayers in school.

Indians should not support republicans who support overtly and covertly christian fundamentalists like ‘Pat Robertson’, ‘Jerry Falwell’ and the Chief-Gaurdian of Kashmiri Terrorists ‘Muharraf’.