Decades ago, former CIA official Miles Copeland wrote a book, The Game Of Nations.Nations are pawns on the international chessboard. Transnational lobbies play them. Ourgovernment should understand this. It talks with China. It woos Israel. It should pause,and reflect.
During the Lahore peace process, Musharraf in Pakistan and Advani in India were hawks.Advani talked of a proactive nuclear policy. Musharraf authored Kargil. Now both aredoves. Musharraf talks of a dialogue with India. Advani talks about an Indo-Pakistanconfederation. He invites Musharraf to "dip his feet in the Sindhu river".
It takes two hands to clap, as they say. Earlier the hands clapped for war. Now thesame hands clap for peace. Isn't this strange? The hands are Advani and Musharraf.But whose is the head that decides?
That is where transnational lobbies become relevant. Advani has a rapport with Israel.Musharraf has links with China. Do Israel and China connect?
When China launched liberalisation in 1978, the Chinese Communist Party changed itsofficial stance on Zionism. From a "racist" movement, Zionism became a"nationalist" movement. Was the timing mere coincidence? It must have pleasedIsrael and its substantial business lobby in America. Subsequently, next to Russia, Israelbecame China's biggest arms supplier.
This was bad for India. China trained terrorists in Afghanistan. It helped Pakistanbecome a nuclear state. Israel encouraged anti-Muslim Hinduism in India. Thus were twosets of hands prepared. They clapped to perpetuate the Indo-Pak divide. A Hindu Indiasuited anti-Arab Israel. A divided subcontinent suited hegemonic China.
Osama bin Laden disturbed this arrangement. He upset America. Pakistan'sChinese-aided bomb jolted Israel. Could it not later become an Arab bomb? Right now, weare in the midst of transition. It takes time for change to sink in.
Israel has succumbed to American pressure. It won't sell radar equipment to China.China has reluctantly joined the international chorus against terrorism. But there couldbe hiccups yet. Contradictions between the government and army in China could lead to anew power struggle. Musharraf's failure to deal with extremists could lead to acounter-coup.
India cannot trust Pakistan till it renounces terrorism. India cannot trust China tillit stops arming Pakistan. India cannot trust Israel till it distances itself from China.
It is as simple as that.
A new enemy, a new friend,
Part of the going game!
No matter which the way you bend,
Your interests stay the same!
