Bull's Eye

Mainline media and think-tanks of the West were exposed during the Iraq war. They were deeply embedded with the US administration. How surprising, then, that the same Establishment poodles now attack the US-India nuclear deal. The New York Times, The Economist, London’s Guardian—you name it, you’ll find it. The classiest western media outlets, through editorials or columnists, are wringing their hands. Why? The Economist is worried that Washington might try making India a counterweight to China. It worries about possible Chinese displeasure. Tsk-tsk! A Guardian columnist complained about "an extraordinary reward to a country that secretly built nuclear weapons and refuses to join the NPT." Think-tanks joined the protest. America’s prestigious Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released a paper, Nuclear Cave In, sharply criticising the deal.

The main grouse was that India had not signed the NPT or got the West’s permission to build the Bomb. Therefore it deserved punishment. India needed nobody’s permission. Its own scientists built the bomb. It had not violated any signed undertaking.

These poodles complained about double standards. But they maintained a deafening silence all through the years when China, as a recognised nuclear power, illegally sold nuclear knowhow through Pakistan to North Korea, Libya and Iran. Therefore, it’s obviously not high principle upsetting western media. So what gives?

American policy has changed although the American presidency has not. The George Bush mask remains intact. But the neo-conservative agenda favoured by Big Business has been scuttled. Security concerns prevail over profit. That confuses the poodles.

The criminal attack against Iraq cannot be undone. Only damage control can be attempted. But where are yesterday’s warmongers? Paul Wolfowitz has been kicked upstairs, away from policymaking. Bush’s aide Karl Rove resigned to fight legal charges. Cheney’s aide Lewis Libby suffered the same fate. Cheney himself might quit in November citing health—not the real reason, of course! Rumsfeld has become a toothless tiger crawling before Condoleezza Rice.

Meanwhile, the Gaza settlements have been vacated. Hamas was allowed to contest elections despite a State Department poll predicting its victory. Palestine inches towards statehood. Russia and China cooperate on the Iran issue. World politics is changing. Big Business poodles can’t handle it. Can politicians? Refused a similar nuclear deal, President Musharraf said Pakistan had the Chinese option. Did he say this with Beijing’s blessing? Time will tell. Meanwhile, a word of caution to Musharraf. These are perilous times. Look hard before you leap.

(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)