I had intended to write this entry at the beginning of the 109th Congress but it becomes particularly relevant in light of the reported cease-fire violation on the Indian/Pakistani border. Who are the new co-chairs of the India Caucus in Congress, and what will their priorities be? The IACFPA profiled Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Gary Ackerman (D-NY) late last year:

This will be Ackerman’s second stint at the Caucus where he served earlier between 1998 and 2000, leaving an unbeaten legacy including earlier this year when he introduced legislation requiring the CIA director to report to Congress on Pakistani proliferation activities. The measure was adopted by the full House as an amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act. Now he expects to handle the newest White House decision to sell high tech military goodies to Islamabad.

On the other hand, less is known of initiatives, if any, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen might have taken vis-à-vis India, other than some letters castigating that country for violating the rights of its religious minorities. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen who is on the House International Relations Committee where she Chairs the Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia, and on the House Government Reform Committee where she is on the Human Rights and Wellness Subcommittee, chaired by none other than old India-foe Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana.

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Huh? Surely I jest. The latest poll numbers in the U.S. do not back up such a claim. I am referring to Bush’s poll numbers in India however. From the BBC:

India is one of just three countries which thinks the world is safer with George W Bush back in the White House, according to a BBC World Service poll.

The survey found that 62% of Indians thought his re-election as US president was positive for global security.

The BBC’s Nick Bryant says the poll was carried out in big Indian cities where US trade benefits may have counted.

On average, 58% of respondents in 21 countries believed another Bush term made the world a more dangerous place.

Well, I guess it’s good to be, err…different than most, but what’s the logic? Pretty obvious actually:

Our correspondent says Mr Bush’s popularity in India seems to be borne primarily of economic necessity.

People were questioned in Mumbai (Bombay), Calcutta, Delhi and Madras (Chennai) – four powerhouses of India’s fast-expanding economy.

Our correspondent says that with a growth rate of well over 6%, many Indians simply believe that the Bush administration is good for business, and that its strong desire to forge closer trade ties is a key component of India’s stunning economic success.

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