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Journalism of Courage
Vowing to strengthen ties with the “natural partner” India, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has noted that the hardworking Indian-American professionals are adding to the “richness” of the US society and invited the community to join him in “renewing the strength” of this country.
“The world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy are natural partners, sharing important interests and fundamental democratic values,” Obama said in a yet to be published article in the India Abroad newspaper, excerpts of which were given in a write-up on Friday.
The Illinois Democrat, who is giving his party rival for presidential nomination Hillary Rodham Clinton a run for her money and hopes to clinch the Ohio and Texas primaries of March 4 to further consolidate his position, recognised the major contributions of Indian-American community to the US economy as well as the fabric of the American society.
The 46-year-old Democrat also took a direct hit at the hate crimes that attracted a lot of attention in the US in the aftermath of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. “Instead of policies that make Indian-Americans feel targeted or excluded from the American story, I will be a president who draws upon the energy and expertise of the Indian American community,” Obama said. “Together, we can restore and revitalise America’s innovation-based economy so that we can create jobs and meet our most pressing domestic challenges”.
“That is why I voted for the US-India nuclear energy deal on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And that is why I will move forward to build a close strategic partnership between the United States and India when I am President of the United States,” he said, arguing that it is imperative that Washington and New Delhi work together.
“Both countries have been victims of catastrophic terrorist attacks, and we have a shared interest in succeeding in the fight against al-Qaeda and its operational and ideological affiliates”.
Obama has maintained that he had opposed from the very beginning of putting all the eggs in the basket of President Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan and had proposed “that we need to condition our assistance to the Pakistani government so that we encourage stronger action against al-Qaeda and a restoration of democracy”.
“Our goal remains not simply an all-in Pakistan, our goal is a democratic ally, with a vibrant civil society and strong institutions,” he said.
