| Author | Message | | Guest | | Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2002 11:02 am Post subject: |
| How do we stop this being the thread title??
Looks like its too late.
The eagle spreads its wings: How America's influence is growing
THROUGH alliances ostensibly to fight the scourge of Islamic terrorism, the world's only superpower, the United States, is gaining influence in Asia.
Ten months after the events of September 11, the US military presence is palpable not only in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asian republics such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan - vital to US oil conglomerates, anxious to begin laying pipelines to the Arabian Sea - but in varying degrees in the Indian sub-continent: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar (Burma). Further east, the Americans are helping to combat al-Qa'ida militants in the Philippines and bolstering their presence in Indonesia and the South China Sea.
The US has emerged as the leading foreign investor in Central Asia's energy sector, declaring it wants to promote political and economic stability. America's first strategic move after 11 September was in the Central Asian republics, whose location made them vital to the American campaign against Usama Bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Officials are at pains to stress the American presence in Central Asia is temporary. But the Bush administration's support for authoritarian regimes, its economic and military largesse and its construction of near-permanent bases there suggests otherwise.
India is the favourite
While Pakistan and Afghanistan remain important areas of interest for America, US President George W Bush is forging a strategic alliance with India in a bid to contain Chinese influence. The US and India have signed agreements to share intelligence and another to protect technology secrets. In April, India bought eight US-built Firefinder weapons-locating radars for US$146m in the first US defence contract in four decades.
The Bush administration also cleared the sale of military hardware to India and is offering to sell it multi-mission maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Quiet American pressure has been applied to Burma, where the military junta is under Chinese influence. This led to the release of the country's main opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, last month.
Burma is influenced by China but also by China's friend, Pakistan, which has sent it several shiploads of weaponry. Last December, two Pakistani nuclear scientists, anticipating questioning by US officials about their alleged links with the Taliban, sought sanctuary in Burma, intelligence sources said. They arrived in Rangoon via Bangkok and were reportedly hidden in a house in a suburb of Mandalay.
Nepal and Sri Lanka too
Meanwhile, the Bush administration has asked Congress for $20m in unspecified, non-lethal military aid for Nepal that includes body armour, night vision devices and varied equipment for the grossly under-equipped armed forces of Nepal.
Working in tandem with the British - whose association with Nepal dates back to 1815 and who continue to recruit Gurkha soldiers - are around 40 US security specialists assigned to Katmandu, the capital. These undercover advisers are helping the army and the shambolic intelligence service to fight against Maoist insurgents.
That's not all. Under Operation Balanced Style, US Sea Air Land Forces (Seals) have begun training the Sri Lankan army and navy. Police teams are being sent to America for anti-terrorism courses with emphasis on bomb disposal. Co-operation has also been extended to the island's air force, which flies Israeli-made combat aircraft. The US has also been urging the Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka to end the civil war. It wants to set up a naval base at Trincomalee, one of the world's biggest natural deep-sea harbours. | |  | | | ©2002-2009 WarWithoutEnd.co.uk |
