Unfettered Blather

“Annan wants Syria to enforce arms embargo”

What are today’s other headlines going to be?

“Bank robbers asked to provide lobby security.”

“A fox is expected to guard the henhouse.”

“Meth junkie gets a job at the pharmacy.”

“Hugh Hefner to teach at women’s college.”

The list goes on.

James C. Bennet over at Albion’s Seedlings writes that “Given current realities, India’s relationship with the Anglosphere will be one of the defining factors of the 21st century.” No offense to Mr. Bennet or his excellently written entry, but “DUH!”

Bush’s trip to India and many of his comments, the comments of the media, and the comments of the non-technology blogosphere are full of wonder and hope concerning the US and India’s relation. The problem is that they are all about 3 years too late. Anyone involved in the technology profession has been dealing with India or at least Indians for some time now. If you work in technology, chances are you’ve already talked to a tech support specialist in India, worked as part of a project that is largely being developed in India, or at the very least probably had at least one Indian immigrant on your team.

India is a good partner. I can say that with a great deal of confidence because India has something that many countries in its neck of the woods do not. India has freedoms, India gives its people a voice, India is a democracy. Is it perfect? No, of course not! Then again, what system is? When the British left India to self rule, they didn’t fall in on themselves but rather became quite self sufficient. We still have some trade imbalances to discuss, but for the most part I think they’re one of the best global partners we could hope for.

The influence of India on the US has been felt for some time now, and not just in the technology field. Let’s face it though, politicians are often late to the party, even in the Executive Branch. It’s funny to be defending off-shoring at a time when so many companies are thinking of scaling back their operations or doing away with it altogether. The off-shoring trend is dying, which will hopefully be replaced with a sane off-shoring practice. It will not go away entirely, and it shouldn’t go away.

I’m not approaching India with rose-colored glasses. There are challenges and hurdles that must be overcome. There are disadvantages to doing business with them. I am not blind to any of that. However, they’ve been working in this country before I started my IT career in 1999. I somehow doubt they’d be going anywhere even if Bush hadn’t made his big to-do in India.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&e=2&u=/nm/20041206/wl_nm/spain_eta_dc

Well, the good news is that no one was killed in the latest attack. Unless I read that wrong. Anyway, it’s more than a little concerning that we’re seeing two attacks just days apart.

Spain sent the message loud and clear with their elections - “Terrorism works here!”

Now, despite all the police crackdowns and arrests, terrorist attacks have begun anew.

Say what you will about the Iraq War, we have not had a major attack on our soil since we began hunting down our enemies wherever they might hide. While the 9/11 commission continues to deny a link between Saddam and Al Queda, the presence of Al Queda operatives inside Iraq with an extensive network of resources and safehouses suggests they’ve been operating inside the country for quite some time. They didn’t just pop-up overnight and plant themselves after the overthrow of Saddam. It’s simply not that easy to secure funding and bases of operation that quickly, especially not for a group that has not shown itself to be a pinnacle of efficiency in the past.

For our troubles we’ve had an anthrax scare that was eventually, if oddly quietly, dealt with and a homegrown terrorist shooting at people from the trunk of his car. We have been dismantling terrorist operations in the US and are working at tightening our borders. A lot of work is yet to be done. However, I believe our strong stance against terrorists on their own turf has been the biggest deterrent to attacking the US. They’re too busy trying to deal with us as we fight them on their very doorstep.

But those that give in to terrorists only set themselves up for more terrorist attacks. We tried to ignore terrorism and treat it like a criminal problem for many years. The end result was that fateful day on September 11th that we all remember so well. Spain has had their own version of 9/11 was horrific results. Their answer is to turn tail and run. Now a different group is continuing to use terrorism against them on their own soil. Why not? It worked so well for the other guys. Maybe it will work for them.

It’s the same as positive and negative reinforcement used to condition any child to know right from wrong. It’s not complex or difficult to understand. Make them hurt worse than they hurt us, and don’t let pain on our part weaken our resolve. The US figured that out, Spain has not. Spain is going to be in for more heartache in the future. The Basque separatists are only going to increase their attacks until someone does die again.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20041206/ts_nm/saudi_usa_consulate_dc_13

Saudi Arabia is the least palatable “ally” we’ve had since Russia in WWII. Their society is oppressive and the lack of separation between religion and politics allows the radical anti-Democracy elements have a direct influence on the masses. The Saudi royal family tolerates this because, for now, the extremists have not called for their overthrow. The relationship between the government and the extremists is entirely a marriage of convenience. The government cannot really crackdown on terrorism inside the country because they would lose the support of the religious leaders that, for now, endorse their power.

It’s sickening to me. It’s sickening that we ally ourselves with these people. What makes them any different than Iran? Simply because the Saudis are more open to western goods and trade? Everything else seems to be the same. A repressive regime that denies human rights to a significant portion of its citizens? Check! Direct religious influence on political decisions? Check! Endorsement of terrorist actions by influential figures? Check! Anti-Americanism sentiment encouraged among the populace? Check!

The Bush Administration has taken a much different position as to who they will get in bed with. The Saudis, however, were there before Bush took office. We, sadly, need their support for now.

At the same time, stories like the above are not uncommon. Terrorist elements seem to act without fear in the country. The Saudi government claims to be doing something about it, but they’re releasing these guys about as fast as they haul them in.

We may be dealing with Iraq now, and we may be looking at Syria and Iran in the future. My question is, when is it going to be Saudi Arabia’s turn? I don’t see them pulling a Libya. The Royal Family enjoys their prestige too much and the religious extremists enjoy their power. You think Saddam was entrenched? Wait to you see regime change come to Saudi Arabia.