Two Readings

An interesting debate on Iraq between Christopher Hitchens and Tariq Ali can be found here. Worth reading.

Also worth reading is Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran's February 14 speech cited by The Acorn . We generally agree with Mr. Saran except on a key point. He says:

As a flourishing democracy, India would certainly welcome more democracy in our neighbourhood, but that too is something that we may encourage and promote; it is not something that we can impose upon others.

We have, of course, repeatedly argued that India should make democracy a key objective for its neighborhood foreign policy, by persuasion where possible, by imposition where necessary. See also our February 7 post, coincidentally on the same subject India & SAARC: Tough Love or Dadagiri?