Of Obama and outstanding issues by Puneet Rajhans

Of Obama and outstanding issues

THe Obama administration has decided to withdraw tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs, research and innovation to other countries. THe heap of abuse that he would be courting from outsourced destinations would be a case of straying. The issue to be probed at length is why he is stepping on the gas when his visit to the subcontinent is less than two months away. The answer lies in the dilemma he faced while getting the content for his address to the joint houses of Parliament which would probably happen on Nov 9 if no other untoward incident(anti-outsourcing jibe being one of them) takes place between now and then. He didn't want the address to be customary like touching on ups and downs of India-US ties; the Changing equations between China and India or between India and Pak or more appropriately between China and Pak. He didn't even want to touch on China-India trade impetus or displacement of US as the largest trading partner of India. Not even on the level of illegal trade that comes from China to India via Pak, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
He wanted his address to be preceded by a question hour session with INdian lawmakers. The question hour in both houses is the time when he gives his sleep and family the much-flaunted miss. The feeding material that he gets for his address from the blanket and yet not visible ban on outsourcing in the state of Ohio to be followed by other states of US of A would be enough. He would be pilloried and booted for encouraging states after states from desisting from outsourcing to nation states like India. Once he has been heckled long enough to illustrate the heckling that his predecessor George Bush faced at the hands of different lobbies and groups, he would have set the tempo for his address to begin. He would urge Indian lawmakers to explore new territories from where the outsourcing business could be gained. Probably nation states like Nepal Bangladesh and Pak would be on his mind as he has a deep desire for US' ties to improve with these three countries. He would further ask the MPs to explore new ideas and partnerships with these three countries (Jewel in the Crown and not Tiny Viruses is how he would like them to be seen) which are on the verge of gaining new ground. The query could well be why these three nations.
"China", my dear friend. China has made deep inroads into these three nations while you people were squabbling about Women's reservation bill, enemy property bill and mp hike and slash bill. You need to court these countries if you don't want to be bombed to a stone age. As very soon these countries would have nuclear arsenal that would put you to shame. Again courtesy China.
My outspoken views on outsourcing is meant to see that you take outsourcing business from them and thereby mend your ways on dealing with neighbours who all are diehard supporters of Chinese regime. Once you take your level of engagement to a new level by getting outsourcing business from them you could well have a strong positioning vis-a-vis China.
As the deed has been done in Ohio to be followed in other states, the one issue that Obama won't touch is the hidden agenda behind his outsourcing idea. He may may well see Indian lawmakers being outspoken on this subject but by taking this anti outsourcing line he would have manufactured enough supporters for himself in at least Pakistan which he intends to visit soon. THe dates would be decided in deep consultations with Chinese officials.
As for his dates and stay in India, it could only be finalised when he gave a word to China that precisely two months before his visit he would drop the outsourcing bombshell. So even in India the Chinese Dragon would be on his mind and the Chinese politicos on the line where the new bombshell to come from his stable would be like this: "In the name of humanity and for durable peace in South Asia i would like to stress on China taking the mediatory role on all outstanding issues concerning India and Pakistan. Once China bid fails then i would take over. Mind you, we want to take engagement with you to a level never seen before."