Understandably US needs China a lot more than it needs India, to pick itself out of the current recession(note the forex reserves of the two countries from previous post). Still, in diplomatic speak, there is a message.
In this context, I have been having a difficult time understanding our psychology of falling for praise. In other words, we are mostly suckers for a few nice words. That in itself wouldn't be so bad. However, it begins to hurt our cause when we go ape on a charm offensive.
B Raman puts it so succinctly in Indo-US context. Hillary Clinton's Visit to India
Snippets from B Raman's blog
- 5.We have no culture of strategic-thinking and laser-sharp analysis based on cruel facts and figures. But we have a long-ingrained culture of wishful-thinking. All Hillary Clinton has to do is to make a few statements describing India as a great power, praising Mahatma Gandhi, highlighting the impact of Gandhiji on Martin Luther King and Barack Obama, India's IT genius etc, Indians will be quite happy for some months till the next disappointment comes.
- 7.Hype and flattery will be the defining characteristics of her visit. Indian ego will remain tickled for some months.
Hopefully, it takes more than some nice words before the media goes gaga over Hillary charming personality. On a positive note, it is said that she is visiting only India and Thialand, in recognition of Indian sensitivities to clubbing India and Pakistan on same trip.
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