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Regular readers will recall that a month ago I emphasized the importance of Nicholas Sarkozy's military and nuclear overtures to India.

Now Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is getting the US into the game, according to Al Jazeera:

Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, has visited India for talks on military deals including a possible $10.2 billion fighter jet purchase....

Earlier this month India agreed to buy six Lockheed Martin military transport planes worth about $1 billion.

The deal marked a major shift in military policy for India, which has traditionally looked to Russia for arms and aircraft....

The discussions come despite talks stalling between the two nations on a landmark nuclear co-operation deal which would reverse decades of US anti-proliferation policy with a nation that has tested nuclear weapons and refused to sign non-proliferation treaties.

The agreement permits the US to send nuclear fuel and technology to India, which in turn would separate its military and civilian nuclear programmes and allow international inspections at civilian facilities.

However the agreement ran into stiff opposition in India and the US, with members of US Congress and India's communist parties expressing anger at the deal.

Some Indians worry that it would allow the US to exert influence over their country's foreign policy, while in the US officials have expressed concern that it could lead to India's increasing its nuclear weapons supply.


First question: does anybody think this is NOT related to the Sarkozy initiative?

Second question: does everybody recall that India and Pakistan are not bosom buddies?

Third question: so if we're propping up the current Pakistani regime and sending them military hardware out the ying-yang, while at the same time looking to sell fighter jets to India, is US foreign policy (a) cynical (b) moronic (c) based on the economic value of selling arms to both sides in yet another potential theater of conflict, or (d) all of the above?
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