|
|
|
India Perspective: Interview with Barack Obama |
|
|
|
|
Contributed by J. R. Ransom
|
 Barack & Michelle
'I
Am Reluctant To Seek Changes In The N-Deal' In an exclusive interview
with Outlook, the US presidential hopeful speaks on a range of
subjects: the nuclear deal, Mahatma Gandhi, his ability to reconcile
Islam with modernity, and how he wouldn't have put all eggs in the
Musharraf basket.
What
Obama said:
On the nuclear deal (with India)
"I continue to hope this process
can be concluded before the end of the year.... I am reluctant to seek
changes."
His remarks suggest he is opposed to
renegotiating the deal, as the BJP has demanded. Should the deal not be
sealed this year, Obama as president isn't likely to impose new
conditions, a fear the UPA has constantly stoked to compel its critics
to fall in line.
On
his India connection
Mahatma
Gandhi is his inspiration. As an anthropologist, his mother did work in
rural India. Considers himself fortunate to have close Indian-American
friends. His mother exposed him to different cultures, including
India's.
On
Outsourcing
Believes
workers in the US have to compete with those in Bangalore or Beijing,
an irreversible feature of the world intricately interconnected because
of IT. But to make globalisation work for American employees, he plans
to offer tax incentives to those who create jobs in the US.
On Terrorism
Considers
both India and the US as victims of terrorism; thinks the
counter-terrorism partnership is based on a shared interest in
defeating extremist forces. Wants to strengthen military cooperation
between the two countries.
On how he would like US-India
relations to grow
Across the board, he says. More
specifically, on securing a cleaner and sustainable energy future, and
placing a higher priority on agriculture, science, public health and
IT. He thinks India has enormous potential to contribute to a shared,
sustained global economic growth.
On Visiting India
Plans
to continue with the tradition laid down by Clinton and Bush to visit
India during their tenure.
On Pakistan
Was
opposed to America putting all its eggs in the Musharraf basket. Wants
to emphasise on democracy and socio-economic development and not just
counter-terrorism. Believes America must destroy Al Qaeda's sanctuary
along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
On Muslims
Says
it is possible to reconcile Islam with modernity and respect for human
rights and rejection of violence.
In what ways would President
Barack Obama be different from President John McCain on issues of
foreign policy?
I will end a war in
Iraq that I opposed from the beginning. I will talk to all
nations friend and foe because the Bush administration policy of not
talking to leaders we don't like has not worked. I will finish the
fight in Afghanistan, and refocus our approach on Pakistan. I am the
only candidate who expressed early and regular concern about putting
all of our eggs in the Musharraf basket and who has made it clear that
we must do more to destroy Al Qaeda's sanctuary along the
Afghan-Pakistan border.
I will pursue a foreign
policy in which America leads by example and principle, one in which we
reject torture without equivocation and respect basic human rights and
civil liberties. More fundamentally, the world will see a new face of
America the day that I am elected, and I will bring a new kind of
experience to the Oval Office.My understanding of global challenges has
not just been shaped in the corridors of power; it has been shaped by
the wider world.
 Ľoung Obama with mum Stanley Ann
That is reflected both in my approach
to leadership, and in my policies, which include doubling American
foreign assistance to $50 billion, making the UN's goal which is
America's as well of halving extreme poverty by 2015. My foreign policy
will seek to enhance freedom not by top-down ideological mandate, but
by expanding the rule of law, transparent democratic institutions,
bottom-up economic growth, education, and access to public health and
technology.
You
talk of change. What is the sort of change that you hope to bring about
in Washington?
The change I will bring
to Washington is an extraordinary ground-up involvement by the American
people. My campaign has energised Americans who have never before been
involved in the political process. Their energy and the mandate for
change that they embody will help us break out of the stalemate that
has gripped our public policy.
For far too long,
Washington has been trapped in the same conventional thinking and the
same partisan battles among the same actors. It is time to move past
our divisions, and rally all Americans Democrats, Independents and
Republicans around a common purpose. It is this energy of the American
people that will help us to push back against the special interests
that have blocked progress, and reduce the influence of Washington
lobbyists.
It is the American people who will help
us move beyond a view of national security that values tough talk over
sound judgement, a mindset that led us into a war in Iraq that I
opposed from the beginning. With the American people's engagement and
commitment to change, we can finally make progress on the challenges
that we face year after year after year healthcare we can't afford; an
energy policy that we cannot sustain; and an America that is less safe
and less respected in the world. We can turn the page to a new era of
American leadership and prosperity.
In terms of
foreign policy, the change I will bring to Washington is experience of
a different, critical sort. If I go to a poor country and speak about
both the US obligation to work with poor countries to relieve
suffering, and also the responsibility of poor countries to clear up
corruption and increase transparency and rule of law and build their
civil service, I do so with the credibility of someone with a
grandmother who lives in an impoverished village in Africa.
 A policy of unconditional support for President Musharraf hasn't worked
Your
critics say that in a match-up between Senator John McCain and you, he
has the upper hand on foreign policy and national security experience.
Do you believe you have suitable expertise on these two issues to match
Senator McCain in November?
I will
bring a record of sound and better judgement on the key national
security challenges that America has faced in recent years, and a
vision for the future that is far different than Senator McCain's. I
opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning and will end it as
president; Senator McCain has been one of the staunchest supporters of
the war, and wants to keep US troops in Iraq indefinitely. I have
called for tough and direct diplomacy with US adversaries like Iran;
Senator McCain wants to continue the failed Bush policy of not talking
to our adversaries.
I have called for a change in
our Pakistan policy, so that we emphasise support for democracy and
social and economic development, not only counter-terrorism; Senator
McCain supported a policy of unconditional support for President
Musharraf that did not work. We must align ourselves with Pakistan and
its people, not just one individual.
I will offer
the American people a clear contrast with John McCain and a clean break
from the foreign policy failures of the Bush-Cheney years.
The
US and Indian governments are struggling to push through a civilian
nuclear agreement. You had some concerns about this deal when it was
debated in Congress. If the deal is not sealed by the end of the Bush
administration, will an Obama administration in 2009 be willing to
reopen it or do you think it should be scrapped?
I
voted for the US-India nuclear agreement because India is a strong
democracy and a natural strategic partner for the US in the 21st
century. As you point out, I had some concerns about the
non-proliferation aspects of the original agreement when it was debated
in Congress. But I also concluded that this agreement would enhance our
partnership and deepen our cooperation. Once fully implemented, the
nuclear deal would also aid in the important effort to combat global
warming by allowing India to meet its growing electricity demands with
nuclear energy rather than burning coal.
 Revolutions in communication
If you have concerns about the
nuclear deal, what changes would you like to see?
The
existing agreement effectively balanced a range of important
issues from our strategic relationship with India to our
non-proliferation concerns to India's energy needs.I am therefore
reluctant to seek changes.
Many in the Indian-American
community are firm Clinton supporters because they see President Bill
Clinton as the man who engaged India with his historic visit. In what
ways will you be a better president for US-India relations?
My
campaign has enjoyed strong and deep support from the very beginning
from the Indian-American community, including support from many leading
Indian-Americans who served in the Clinton administration. That
community support is deepening at every stage of our effort.
Both
President Clinton and President Bush did many important things to
strengthen the US-India relationship. I will work energetically to
build on the work of the last two US administrations and move forward
to forge an even closer strategic partnership between our two countries.
In what areas would you like to
see US-India relations grow?
Across-the-board would
be the short answer. But let me elaborate with a few examples. I
believe that the US and India must work together to combat the common
threats of the 21st century.
 Barack & Michelle
We are both
victims of terrorist attacks on our soil, and our counter-terrorism
partnership is based on a shared interest in defeating the forces of
extremism. Our common strategic interests call for strengthening
US-India military cooperation. We share an interest in democracy and
the rule of law, and can work to promote democracy and strengthen legal
institutions in South Asia and beyond. We share an interest in
combating global climate change, and the US and India can both do more
to lead the world in securing a cleaner and more sustainable energy
future. I intend to increase energy cooperation with India so we can
together address the climate crisis that threatens our planet. We share
an interest in combating the spread of disease, including HIV/AIDS. And
we share an interest in combating global poverty, which is why I will
seek the UN's goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015. We cannot allow
the world's neediest to be left behind.
India has
enormous potential to contribute to a shared, sustained global economic
growth. Our agenda should also include strengthening our economic
relationship on a mutually beneficial basis. I would also like to see
agriculture given a higher priority in our relations, as India pursues
its goal of a 'Second Green Revolution'. I would like to see a ramp-up
in higher education collaboration in fields like science, public health
and information technology.
Do you see closer US-India ties
as a means to counterbalance the rise of China?
The
United States should seek to strengthen its bilateral relationship with
India on its own merits, because of our many shared interests and our
shared democratic values. The deeper relationship that I will seek is
not about working against China or any other country it is about
addressing our common interests and common challenges for the 21st
century.
President
Clinton was criticised for visiting India very late in his
presidency when he was a lame duck president. Do you intend to visit
India if you are elected president and how soon would you like to make
this trip?
President Clinton's visit to
India was the first by a US president in 22 years. President Bush
rightly followed suit and travelled to India. New Delhi is now a part
of an American president's overseas travel while in office, just as it
is to other capitals of our key allies and friends around the world.As
president, I will continue this newly established tradition.
What is your stand on the dispute
between India and Pakistan over Kashmir? Do you want the US to play a
more active role in resolving this situation?
I
believe the US should encourage the existing and ongoing dialogue
between India and Pakistan aimed at resolving the dispute over Kashmir.
The US should be a strong supporter of this process, one that will, if
ultimately successful, have enormous benefits for both India and
Pakistan, and the region as a whole.
India has been a major
beneficiary of outsourcing of jobs by US firms. You have talked about
providing incentives to firms that keep jobs in the US. Do you believe
the practice of outsourcing should be stopped altogether?
Revolutions
in communications and technology have sent jobs wherever there's an
internet connection, and have forced workers in Chicago and Boston to
compete for those jobs with workers in Bangalore and Beijing. We live
in a more competitive world, and that is a fact that cannot be
reversed. We know that we cannot and should not put up walls around our
economy.
 Gandhi portrait Obama's Office
Do you have any Indian influences in your life?
My mother instilled in me
from a very young age an interest in other cultures and exposure to
their traditions, including Indian culture and traditions. As an
anthropologist, she later did rural development work in India. In my
own life, I am fortunate to have close Indian-American friends and I am
proud to have the long-standing support of so many Indian-Americans in
all aspects of my campaign. Throughout my life, I have always looked to
Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of
transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come
together to do extraordinary things. That is why his portrait hangs in
my Senate office: to remind me that real results will come not just
from Washington they will come from the people.
Recently your campaign revealed
that as a 19-year-old you travelled to Karachi and Hyderabad in
Pakistan. Could you share some of these experiences with us?
I
travelled to Pakistan for about three weeks to visit a friend from
college. What my experience taught me is that among the most important
aspects of our foreign policy is not simply our relations with the
rulers of countries, but also our appreciation and understanding of the
challenges, the hardships, the struggles and the aspirations of
ordinary people.
Exclusive Interview with Barack
Obama by Ashhish Kumar Sen, Outlook Magazine, India - July 21,
2008
Visit Barack Obama for President.
|
|
|
