Geopolitics

The myths exposed by Wikileaks
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By B Raman
Issue Net Edition | Date : 07 Dec , 2010


The confidential cables exchanged between the US State Department and the US diplomatic missions abroad, which have been released by WikiLeaks, expose the following five myths:

WikileaksFirstly, the myth of Islamic solidarity. One finds rulers of the Islamic world and the rulers of Pakistan willing and wanting to secretly  collaborate with the US against their adversaries and rivals, even if they are Muslims. Thus, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Gulf are willing to support US operations against Iran. The Pakistani rulers carry tales against each other to their American interlocutors and vie with one another in projecting themselves as more pro-American than others. All their public proclamations of Islamic solidarity are a sham.

The WikiLeaks would have made a great contribution to our fight against terrorism”¦

Secondly, the myth of US solidarity with India in the fight against jihadi terrorism originating from Pakistan. The US has been following double standards in the matter of action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. There has been no change in this even under President Barack Obama.

Copious tears for the victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Indian territory and tacit understanding of the so-called Pakistani compulsions in continuing to use terrorism against India continue to be the two features of the US policy. One does not see any sense of shock or anger in the US State Department and in the US missions in Pakistan over Pakistan’s use of terrorism against India. Deplorable, but understandable—-that  continues to be the US attitude.

The WikiLeaks would have made a great contribution to our fight against terrorism, if the leaked documents make us rid ourselves of the illusions regarding the US in our mind and draw up our own strategy for dealing with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The  US has not shown a readiness to act against Pakistan for 29 years since it started wielding the weapon of terrorism in 1981. It is not going to act in the years to come either.

The leaked cables make it clear  that China is not prepared to accept India as an equal permanent member of the UN Security Council with the same status and veto power as China.

Thirdly, the myth of US victory in the war against terrorism in Iraq and of the coming victory in Afghanistan. Both Iraq and Afghanistan are going from bade to worse. The NATO policy-makers are clueless in Afghanistan. The jihadis are prepared to fight against the US and keep it bleeding for as long as necessary. The US is unable to prevail over them. If the jihadis prevail over the US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan, a new crop of  Afghan returnees will descend on India. The end to our fight against jihadi terrorism is not for tomorrow.

Fourthly, the myth of genuine Chinese friendship for India. The leaked cables make it clear  that China is not prepared to accept India as an equal permanent member of the UN Security Council with the same status and veto power as China.

Fifthly, the myth of morality and ethics being the guiding principles of the Obama administration. That they are not so is evident from the cable of  the State Department to the US Permanent Mission in the UN Headquarters to collect personal details of the staff of the UN Secretariat. This is apparently for using those details  to recruit the staff of the UN Secretariat for intelligence operations.



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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

B Raman

Former, Director, Institute for Topical Studies, Chennai & Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. He is the author of The Kaoboys of R&AW, A Terrorist State as a Frontline Ally,  INTELLIGENCE, PAST, PRESENT & FUTUREMumbai 26/11: A Day of Infamy and Terrorism: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

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One thought on “The myths exposed by Wikileaks

  1. The USA had good reasons to lose in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was in the heat of 9/11 to appease the anger of US citizens. But then, as questions began to be raised about the true origin of 9/11 which was Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Petro Dollars began to be poured into the coffers of NATO opinion and decision makers to distract by covering up. The war profiteers quickly saw that Afghanistan was irrelevant compared to Iraq which the Saudis dangled before them in terms of Oil Money that could be impounded and blown up. Billions of Dollars in Iraqi cash was flown into Iraq, ostensibly for “Nation Building” and vanished. Unaccounted. Apart from the fortunes made by Tweedle Bush and Tweedle Blair’s cronies. Notably Dick Cheney and his boys. Most importantly, the secular, prosperous modern Iraq with its thriving discos, bars, and communities of Jews, Christians, Yazidis and others which was such an eyesore to the US’ Sunni Arab Alliescould be toppled. Once Iraq became the principal object, Afghanistan became a side show. I was screaming this from the roof tops as this unfolded. But when Dominique De Villepin and Hans Blix were drowned out, what chance had voices like mine?

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