The Left protest against Indo-US military exercise at Kalaikunda air force is an example of freedom of speech and expression in a democratic set-up, according to the US Air Force. ‘‘One of the reasons we serve in the military is to preserve freedom of speech in a democracy,’’ said Colonel David Cannon, Pacific Air Forces public affairs director. Pacific Air Force is the sponsor of the joint Indo-US military exercise, codenamed “Cope 05”.The Air Force statement comes a day after start of the military exercise amid massive protest by Left parties, which are key constituents of the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the Centre. Col. Cannon told The Indian Express that the U.S. Air Force and the United States administration are working closely with the Indian government on arrangements for the exercise.“The US Air Force, or any branch of the service, only serves in a country at the invitation of that country’s government,” Cannon said.This is for the first time that the US has deployed a dozen F-16 fighter jets for the largescale exercise. The 250-member strong U.S. Air Force contingent is led by Colonel Cobat Nelson and the F-16 fighter aircraft squadron is from the Miswa Air Base in Japan.Col. Cannon said this would go a long way in strengthening military ties between the two nations. “It cultivates common bonds and fosters goodwill between members of Indian Air Force and the US Air Force,” he said. “Over the past five years, US and India have held numerous joint military exercises that have resulted in a strengthened US-India bilateral relationship,” he said. One benefit of the Indo-US military relationship, according to him, was the completion of tsunami relief operations.
