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11 November 2010 By Rick Rozoff President Barack Obama arrived in Mumbai, India on
November 6 and announced $10 billion in business deals
with his host country which he claimed will contribute
to creating 50,000 new American jobs. By some accounts
half the transactions will be for India's purchase of
U.S. military equipment and half the new jobs will be
created in the defense sector. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is completing a
nearly two-week tour of the Asia-Pacific region which
will culminate in meeting up with Defense Secretary
Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Michael Mullen in Australia on November 8 to
among other matters secure the use of the country's
military bases. Gates will then visit Malaysia, "amid concern in
the region over China's growing economic and naval
power" [1], to solidify military ties with the
Southeast Asian nation as Obama moves to Indonesia,
South Korea and Japan after his first visit to India
on what will be his longest trip abroad since assuming
the presidency. Obama styles himself "America's first Pacific
president," having been born in Hawaii and spending
part of his childhood in Indonesia, and his
administration has targeted Asia for the expansion of
U.S. military influence and presence. Several months ago a Chinese report warned that his
visit to India was designed in large part to "secure
$5 billion worth of arms sales," a deal that "would
make the US replace Russia as India's biggest arms
supplier" and "help India curb China's rise." [2] What he has accomplished is "a $5 billion sale for
10 of Boeing's C-17 cargo planes" which represents
"the sixth biggest arms deal in U.S. history." "This and the pending $60 billion deal with Saudi
Arabia will certainly help to jump-start the economy,
as they [arms sales] have for the past fifty years."
[3] Job creation in the U.S. is an abysmal failure
except in the military sector. "Boeing said the C-17 deal with India will support
650 suppliers in 44 U.S. states and support the
company's own C-17 production facility in Long Beach,
California, for an entire year." [4] Other deals included an $822 million contract for
General Electric to provide 107 F414 engines for the
Tejas lightweight multirole jet fighter being
developed by India. Rahul Bedi, Indian-based correspondent for Jane's
Defence Weekly, recently revealed that since U.S.
sanctions enforced after India's 1998 nuclear tests
were lifted in 2001 "India has concluded and signed
arms contract worth $12 billion. This includes
maritime reconnaissance aircraft (Boeing P-81),
missiles, artillery guns, radars and transport
aircraft. "India is also buying heavy lift transport for the
air force (C-17s). An artillery radar contract was the
first of its kind worth $142 million. Over the next
years, India is going to go for repeat orders of C-17s
[Globemaster IIIs], C-130J Super Hercules [military
transport aircraft], etc." and "these contracts are
worth another 7 to 8 billion dollars." [5] The projected purchase of 126 multirole combat
aircraft will account for another $10 billion and
other contracts for assorted military helicopters are
also being pursued by Washington. What is in question
is $15 billion in weapons deals. With already concluded and potential contracts, "we
are talking about very, very big business. We are
talking about the shifting of Indian military
hardware, completely. "Shifting from Russian components to American ones
is a big shift. In the mid-90s, the Pentagon had
assessed that by 2015 [it] would like India to source
it's 25 per cent of hardware. They seem to be well on
their way in meeting their target. "The profile of Indian military hardware is
becoming US-oriented. This will bring definitive
change in Indian military doctrine because it's
dependent on [imported] equipment." The U.S. is also pressuring the Indian government
to sign several military-related agreements, including
a Logistics Support Agreement which could prove
"dangerous because the use of US ports by Indians will
be zero while the US can or may use Indian bases
frequently because of their presence in the region.
So, technically speaking, if the US should have
problem[s] with Iran or Pakistan they, under the
agreement, may use our bases. Indian soil can become a
lunching pad for refuelling or servicing." [6] Addressing the U.S.-India Business Council in
Mumbai on November 6, Obama said: "There is no reason
why India cannot be our top trading partner (from 12th
position now)….I'm absolutely sure that the
relationship between India and the US is going to be
one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century."
[7] That is, one of the decisive political-military
alliances of the century. In the words of Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for
Political Affairs, "The simple truth is that India's
rise, and its strength and progress on the global
stage, is deeply in the strategic interest of the
United States." [8] Obama will leave India on November 8, when Clinton,
Gates and Mullen gather in Australia, and head to
Indonesia where he will exploit his childhood history
and then to the G-20 meeting in South Korea and the
APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in
Japan. Indian troops are currently participating with U.S.
airborne forces in this year's annual Yudh Abhyas
joint military exercises "involving airborne
specialist operations in sub-zero temperatures in
Alaska" of a sort that could be put to use along
India's Himalayan border with China in the event of an
armed conflict like that which occurred in 1962. "The exercise will test the mettle of the Indian
Army men in performing "The exercise is designed to promote cooperation
between the two militaries to promote interoperability
through the combined military decision-making process,
through battle tracking and manoeuvring forces, and
exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures." [9]
Last year's Yudh Abhyas, held in India, was the
largest U.S.-Indian military exercise to date. [10]
From September 29-October 4 personnel from the
Indian army, air force and navy trained with the
U.S.'s 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at the latter's
base in Okinawa in the East China Sea during the Habu
Nag 2010 "bilateral amphibious training exercise
between India and the United States, designed to
increase interoperability during amphibious
operations," the first time "the Indian military had
the chance to work alongside Marines in this
situation." [11] "Okinawa is located close to China and has a
significant US presence where several military bases
are concentrated." [12] …. Clinton began her six-nation tour of the
Asia-Pacific region on October 27 by visiting a
military base in Hawaii, meeting with the head of U.S.
Pacific Command and assuring the foreign minister of
Japan that the U.S. is prepared to honor its military
commitments under terms of the Japan-U.S. Security
Treaty in the event of further clashes between Japan
and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East
China Sea. [13] The next day U.S. and Japanese warships
participated in an advanced ballistic missile
interception test off the coast of Hawaii and on
November 2 the U.S. launched the two-week Orient
Shield 11 (XI) military exercise with 400 U.S.
National Guard and 200 Japanese troops in the latter's
nation. "Since World War II concluded, the United States
has worked to build a better relationship with Japan.
In 1960, the U.S. and Japan signed the Treaty of
Mutual Cooperation and Security, a binding agreement
for both countries to support each other from enemy
attack." As such, "United States Army Japan
facilitates a two-week Orient Shield exercise in Japan
each fall…." In the words of the commander of the Japanese
forces involved this year, "Our main goal is to
enhance the interoperability between the U.S. and
Japan." [14] Since Hillary Clinton spoke this July of U.S.
intentions to intervene in territorial disputes in the
South China Sea between China and its neighbors, the
Pentagon has conducted three joint military exercises
with South Korea, including in the Yellow Sea and the
Sea of Japan/East Sea, and one with Vietnam in the
South China Sea. Last month the U.S. led a 14-nation Proliferation
Security Initiative [15] naval exercise off the
southern port city of Busan, "marking the first time
for South Korea to host such a drill." [16] In
addition to the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS
Lassen and two South Korean destroyers, a Japanese
ship and personnel from Australia, Canada and France
participated. In late September China's Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo
warned that "A series of military drills initiated by
the US and China's neighboring countries showed that
the US wants to increase its military presence in
Asia." "The purpose of these military drills launched by
the US is to target multiple countries including
China, Russia and North Korea and to build up
strategic ties with its allied countries like Japan
and South Korea." [17] Secretary of State Clinton arrived in New Zealand
on November 4. Like South Korea, Australia, Malaysia
and now Japan (which has announced plans to deploy
Self-Defense Forces medical personnel), New Zealand
has troops serving in Afghanistan. "New Zealand has participated in the U.S.-led
campaign in Afghanistan, with 140 personnel carrying
out reconstruction work in Bamiyan and 70 special
forces troops in the country believed to be operating
in Kabul." Her visit revived and expanded military ties
between the U.S and New Zealand that had been dormant
since 1986, "mark[ing] the end of a row over nuclear
weapons dating back almost 25 years," according to
Prime Minister John Key. "U.S. and New Zealand troops could train together"
again, the press reported, and two days before
Clinton's arrival the New Zealand government published
a 100-page defense white paper, the first in 13 years,
detailing "closer military relations with the United
States, Australia, Britain and Canada, as well as
enhanced front-line capabilities. "On the ground the army will get more front-line
soldiers and Special Air Service elite troops, while
on the seas the Anzac frigates will be
upgraded….Hillary Clinton arrived in New Zealand for a
three-day visit, prompting one newspaper to suggest it
was a perfect gift for her." [18] Though not of the same scope, the New Zealand white
paper follows one by Australia last year that calls
for a post-World War Two record $72 billion arms
build-up. [19] Clinton's next stop was Australia, where Pentagon
chief Gates had also arrived to "reinforce the U.S.
commitment to the region with a longstanding U.S. ally
and an increasingly close partner," according to
Defense Department Press Secretary Geoff Morrell. Clinton, Gates and U.S. military chief Admiral
Mullen will meet with Australian Foreign Minister
Stephen Smith and Defense Minister John Faulkner on
November 8 for the 25th anniversary Australia-United
States Ministerial (AUSMIN) meeting. The Pentagon spokesman added that "This year's
talks will cover a broad range of foreign policy,
defense and strategic issues, including ongoing
military operations in Afghanistan," noting that
"Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the
International Security Assistance Force" in
Afghanistan. [20] Morrell emphasized the meeting would strengthen the
U.S.'s alliance with Australia and would contribute to
increased collaboration with regional partners to
ensure "maritime security" in Asia. As a news source
put it, "US officials often employ the phrase
‘maritime security' to refer to concerns about China's
assertive stance over territorial rights in the
Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea." [21] A local news report recently divulged that
"Australia has agreed to a major escalation of
military co-operation with the US," including "more
visits by American ships, aircraft and troops and
their forces exercising here regularly…." "Access to Australian Defence Force facilities will
allow the US to step up its military presence in the
Asia-Pacific region…as concern grows about China's
military expansion." Three "big announcements" on military cooperation
will be made after the Australia-United States
Ministerial consultations and "Increased numbers of US
personnel in Australian facilities are expected within
months, and the tempo of military exercises will be
stepped up as that happens." [22] The military installations that the Pentagon will
gain access to are expected to include army and air
force bases at Townsville, the new Coonawarra naval
base in Darwin, the Stirling naval base on Garden
Island and the Bradshaw Field Training Area. "The Australian development is part of a new US
strategy to step up its military presence in the
Asia-Pacific region after reviews of strategic policy
concluded that the Bush government's attempts to
project power from North America were not working."
[23] When Clinton arrived in Melbourne on November 6 she
"signalled increased military cooperation with
Australia." "Easier use of Australian bases, more joint
training programmes and more visits by ships, planes
and troops are proposed. There could also be
stockpiling of US military equipment and supplies at
local bases, and a joint space tracking facility that
would monitor missiles, satellites and space junk."
In her own words: "I think it's going to be an
issue of discussion at AUSMIN (Australia-US
ministerial level talks Monday) about the cooperation
on a range of matters, including space, cyber-security
and so much else." New Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
confirmed that her administration would "welcome the
United States making greater use of our ports and our
training facilities, our test-firing ranges." [24]…. The focus of U.S. military strategy has shifted
from Europe, subjugated through NATO expansion, and
Africa, subordinated under U.S. Africa Command, to
Asia. An Asia-Pacific analogue of NATO and AFRICOM is
being expanded by the day. 1) Radio Netherlands, November 4, 2010 http://world.globaltimes.cn/asia-pacific/2010-07/550830.html 3) Anika Anand, The Real Reason For Obama's Trip
To India: The Sixth Biggest http://www.businessinsider.com/top-10-us-arms-deals-in-history-2010-11 4) CNN, November 6, 2010 http://news.rediff.com/special/2010/nov/05/obama-visit-special-as-arrives-us-bids-for-heavy-arms-business.htm 6) Ibid http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/../india-u-s-completes-global-military-structure 11) United States Marine Corps, October 5, 2010 http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/../u-s-supports-japan-confronts-china-and-russia-over-island-disputes 14) U.S. Army Japan, November 2, 2010 http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2009/../proliferation-security-initiative-and-us-1000-ship-navy-control-of-worlds-oceans-prelude-to-war 16) Korea Herald, October 13, 2010 http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2009/../australian-military-buildup-and-the-rise-of-asian-nato 20) U.S. Department of Defense, November 4, 2010 http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/../u-s-marshals-military-might-to-challenge-asian-century 24) Deutsche Presse-Agentur, November 6, 2010 |
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