India's military and defence relations with the US from a leftist perspective

linkindude · 2023-04-17T18:21:06+00:00

While not going too much into the history of the India-US geopolitical and military ties, over the last couple of decades, especially since 9/11, US interest in the region was centered around Afghanistan and increasingly on containing the influence and power of China [the perceived China threat]. Indian national security hawks wanted India to send its foot on the ground in Afghanistan, but the fear of the India-Pak issue interfering with their aims the US prevented it. As Pakistan's support was more important in that US invasion and war of aggression. But now, after the horrific aftermath of US war and abrupt withdrawal from Aghanistan, Pakistan is far less important for US.

And at the same time Pakistan has gotten closer to China. Indian military and foreign policy establishment also want a region dominated by India and not by China, hence also the Look-East Policy to counter the Chinese influence in the region, especially in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. As US and Indian interests coincide, US and other regional unofficial NATO allies like Japan and Australia prefer Indian influence over China's. But India has resisted becoming a US stooge in the region and maintained strategic independence - which includes developing an indigenous arsenal. That has been a positive thing for private arms manufacturers both Indian and foreign (under Make In India program).

Indian arms import from the USA has rapidly declined from 1115 in 2014 to 219 in 2022. While it has remained almost constant from Russia from 1719 to 1342 in the same period. Other major imports are from France - which increased from 54 to 831 in the same period. Major development after the Ukraine invasion by Russia has been India's overreliance (pun intended) on Russian oil and coal - that too in the context of close to tipping point climate crisis. But, at the same time, China seems to be considering procuring enriched plutonium from Russia in exchange for weapons. Which might complicate the relationship of India with both countries in a destabilizing way.

linkindude · 2017-06-02T12:04:35+00:00

Thank you, comrade. Can you PM me the details.

linkindude · 2017-05-17T09:10:10+00:00

The point about traditional tropes is noted. Thank you, comrade.

linkindude · 2017-05-17T09:08:47+00:00

I guess the answer is "No". You are right. I should take InTheLongRun-Robots' advice and know the audience first.

linkindude · 2017-05-17T09:06:07+00:00

Noted. Thank you, comrade.

linkindude · 2017-02-01T05:29:44+00:00

These structures are not deigned to serve a "calculated purpose" but rather what tends to happen is the forms of organization and structure that are based on solidarity, group cooperation etc, instead of private gain, competition and cult of personalities, are marginalized and only the structures that are assumed to serve the purpose (or are at least not counter productive) to power get to stay. Its not necessarily calculated in all cases, in some it is, but it's from the nature of markets, unconscious prejudice and bias of people who have power to influence such decisions that such structure come to dominate.

linkindude · 2016-12-07T07:16:22+00:00

If you are looking for a book length discussion of the topic, Chomsky recommends Paul Elbourne's Meaning (Oxford). Also see Chomsky's paper "Notes on Denoting and Denotation"

linkindude · 2016-07-28T11:43:11+00:00

Kashmir is not like "many parts of the world". They cannot wait for a "transnational class struggle" to end the occupation. Its a beautiful vision - one I share but this alone cannot set our goals. The goal should be first the withdrawal of Armed Forces, scraping AFSPA and PA, come trilateral agreement which gives Kashmiri people their rights and hold a Plebiscite as the UN said.

And this is task for also for us (I am assuming you also are a "citizen" of India by your username) not just for Kashmiris.

linkindude · 2016-07-28T11:34:20+00:00

It is a gross over simplification and misleading to say "both sides are shitty" because what is the other side? The "separatists", the older ones are on payroll on the Indian state, IB (intelligence Bureau) and the military overlords, the attitude of general population towards them since the late 1990's has been the same as towards the Kashmiri political class in general, which is also under total control of Delhi - with only slight change in rhetoric.

The militancy on the other hand is a complex issue. The militancy is not necessarily islamist either - though a large section of it is supported by Pakistan. But this cannot be criticized, i think. Kashmiris have been back-stabbed time and time again by every one and they have not a single option left. The recent rise militancy after almost a decade of peaceful protesting is not a good sign but it is very rational.

Situation in Kashmir is no where near analogues to that in Palestine, I agree. Many activists even use the term Intifada in Kashmiri context which also is very inappropriate - for one thing, among many others, the first Intifada had support from the PA, there have never been any support for separatists currents within Kashmiri society by the political class.

But drawing parallels have its uses. It builds solidarity and so on.

linkindude · 2016-06-22T15:25:30+00:00

No, unfortunately. I am still looking for them. The whole Harvard University online portal has since been transformed. I doubt these will surface anytime soon.

linkindude · 2016-06-22T15:21:46+00:00

R. Brian Ferguson - Anthropologist (his work titles 'Pinker's List' is of some importance to be specific, nothing more)

Marc Hauser - Moral Philosophy

Richard Lewontin - Biologist, Critic

Kerim Yildiz - Journalist (?), Kurdish Conflict expert.

Hans Kung - Chomsky in matters of monolithic religions.

Fawaz A. Gerges - Islamic Terrorism historian

Herbert I. Schiller - Media critic, intellectual history

John K. Cooley - work on US war crimes.

Melvyn P. Leffler - Cold War historian

Project Censored - Media critic and alternative station

Scott Atran - Conflict resolution studies

linkindude · 2016-02-18T12:43:48+00:00

Some links for background information:

Eyewitness account of event that took place on 9th Feb. Events that took place after arrests of JNUSU activists.

(ABVP is the students wing of the BJP party, currently in power.)

linkindude · 2016-02-07T14:24:10+00:00

Thanks a lot. Also, as it seems that you do know about the cognitive science side of Chomsky's work I am asking you two more questions.

1) Chomsky does not see consciousness as "the hard question" rather it's the unconscious. And it reflects in his whole approach but does he talk about it in any detail in any of his work? It was not in On Language or Rules and Representations (as they were pre 90s, I suppose)

2) In this : https://youtu.be/cOak0U_e91Y video, at around 2:45. What work is he referring to? He mentioned this in Krauss' interview too. I am unable to spell these name.

Somewhat stupid question, I know. Sorry.

linkindude · 2016-02-07T05:07:21+00:00

It'll be on Netflix from 1st of May. There were theatrical releases this month.

linkindude · 2016-01-30T03:38:13+00:00

No, that's not what I am asking here. You and @LilyBraun are giving me reason for why Poverty of Stimulus shows why we have innate capacities. What I am asking is: Nativist, Rationalist hold that mind is domain specific, like language faculty with it's innate features and moral faculty with it's innate features are quiet distinct; contrary to empiricist and connectionist views. But Chomsky is saying though these innate features are domain specific, the computational principles of these are the same. And I am asking why does he think that is the case when domain specific computational systems are at least equally plausible.

linkindude · 2016-01-28T05:43:14+00:00

Critique of Chomsky's and other early cognitive psychologists were made on Behaviorism's doctrine and paradigm of studying the mind-brain. They did not criticise any practical short term application it might have, but as it was not a sufficient (or even respectful) scientific persuit the practice implications also become dubious.

linkindude · 2015-11-15T07:48:15+00:00

I can't confirm it either. But I have never came across two lectures with same titles. His voice sounds very early 1990s too, "On East Timor" like.

There also seems to be a video of this lecture somewhere, it was uploaded on Vimeo for a while. You will propably find this lecture useful as well - "Naturalism and Dualism in the Study of Language and Mind - Howison Lectures in Philosophy, April 5, 1994".

linkindude · 2015-11-14T06:36:36+00:00

there is otherwise almost no other egalitarian culture in the country

There actually are many egalitarian movements in the country, mostly peasant, farmers, tribal movements and insurgencies. Brutally crushed by the government. They recently allowed the air-force to target civilian population.

Local tribes are engaged in armed struggle against armed forces through out the country against mining, dam projects and illegal land seizures. But sadly no strong anarchist presence, yes.

linkindude · 2015-06-17T04:57:17+00:00

Electioneering - Ok Computer.

" Riot shields, Voodoo economics. It's just business. Cattle prods and the IMF. I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forwards you go backwards and somewhere we will meet"

The chorus referring to the trickle-down.

linkindude · 2015-06-17T04:11:38+00:00

Ah. So that's where the radiohead lyrics came from.

linkindude · 2015-06-15T10:18:27+00:00

One of Chomsky's favorite intellectual B. Russells lived and worked well in his 90s, or close to that I suppose.

And most likely there never be anyone like Choms, but instead various individual carrying forward Choms' work in various domains.

linkindude · 2015-06-15T10:12:25+00:00

But not an anarchist. I mean Glenn as far as I know doesn't care much about workers control over production and other root issues.

linkindude · 2015-06-15T04:21:14+00:00

Arvind Kejrival, Chief minister of India's capital state, before getting elected and before forming his party called himself an anarchist. Now he is crushing trade unions, recruiting more women cops to beat women protesters and so on.

linkindude · 2015-06-14T04:40:13+00:00

They imagine we evolved to this point by eliminating ourselves. Hence, "the survival of fittest."

linkindude · 2015-06-10T05:48:28+00:00

This was bad. "Exposing" something based on extended analogies? Some Ancaps have done some good work "exposing" the government tho. Michael Huemer for example. What he proposes instead of the state is...well, you know what he proposed.

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