US Unhappy with Indian Plan to Buy Gas From Iran

Snowden · 03-17-2005, 13:10

US Unhappy with Indian Plan to Buy Gas From Iran
By Deepak Mahaan
CNSNews.com Correspondent
March 17, 2005

New Delhi (CNSNews.com) -- The U.S. government is concerned about India's plan to import natural gas by pipeline from Iran, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here Wednesday.

At a press briefing after meeting her Indian counterpart, K. Natwar Singh, Rice said she had raised the issue, a problem for Washington since it is seeking to apply pressure on Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons programs.

But the Indian Foreign Minister indicated that India would push ahead with talks on the $4 billion gas pipeline project, in view of its longstanding friendly relationship with Iran.

Singh said India could depend on Iran to help meet its energy requirements, which he said were "growing exponentially" due to rapid industrialization.

Rice hinted that the U.S. may help provide nuclear power plant technology to India as an alternative source of energy to meet its growing needs.

The Iran pipeline issue was not the only area of difference to emerge during Rice's visit, her first to Asia since becoming America's top diplomat.

India also expressed reservations about a reported plan to sell F-16 jets to its historic rival, Pakistan, saying such a sale could create "complications" in the region.

The Wall Street Journal reported that during her South Asian trip Rice was expected to indicate that the U.S. was ready to sell F-16s to both Pakistan and India.

Rice told reporters that although "the question of arms sales, including F-16s" had come up during her talks with Indian officials, she did not expect that there would be any announcement on the subject during her tour.

Observers here believe there has been a shift in the relationship between the world's two largest democracies, with India seen as a growing superpower that cannot be ignored.

C. Raja Mohan, senior political analyst at The Indian Express, said earlier Indo-U.S. meetings had been marked by the U.S. telling India what it should do vis-à-vis Pakistan, and India complaining about the consequences of U.S. relations with Pakistan.

India was now "in a position to make demands on the U.S.," in return for maintaining stability and peace in the region by promoting economic integration with Pakistan and other regional allies - an objective shared by the U.S., Mohan said.

Since the Asian power balance is uppermost in the mind of U.S. strategists, Mohan said, they could not ignore the strength and leadership of India in promoting peace in the region.

In the view of Maroof Raza, a visiting professor of international relations at Britain's Middlesex University, India "blasted itself onto America's radar screens with its nuclear tests of 1998."

The U.S. could also not "ignore the investment opportunities that India offers," Raza said, explaining the shift in the Indo-U.S. relationship.

Tensions have eased between Indian and Pakistan in recent years, at the same time as India has strengthened its defense cooperation with the U.S.

Rice is seen by many here as a strong supporter of India, since it was largely due to her recognition of India's prospect as a global power that helped shape the shift in U.S. policy towards India under the Bush administration.

Rice observed earlier that the U.S. and India had a "broader and deeper relationship" than ever before.

Nonetheless, Indian officials would have liked more support from Rice on Delhi's bid to obtain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Rather than voice support for the bid, as the U.S. has done in the case of Japan, Rice merely said Washington had started a dialogue with India and other countries on the kind of reforms needed at the U.N. in the near future.

Rice left India late Wednesday for meetings with leaders in neighboring Pakistan.

http://www.gopusa.com/news/2005/marc...s_india1.shtml

BrianK · 03-17-2005, 16:25

Most likely I'm not the only one that sees a bigger picture emerging. As India and China find ways to employ & feed each of their 1 billion plus citizens energy will play a vital role. Natural gas goes hand in hand with questions like the other thread, Drilling in ANWAR - a good thing?

One prospect not only could America be squeezed out of buying energy I'd be willing to bet that in combination the citizens of China & India wouldn't care very much if we were. Then there is the prospect that Iraq with the worlds 2nd. largest oil reserves would sell to America, not exclusively of course but hopefully we'd be considered before others.

Positioning for the future without panic, or gloom & doom predictions takes some planning. One of the steps needed IMO will be acceptance that wages & benefits that were increased during the good times [ less world productivity/competition] will have to begin being reduced relative to a manufacturers ability to compete.

What does that have to do with the natural gas line from Iran to India? Dependance by India on an energy source for their manufacturing. China pre planned by building the 3 gorges dam to supply cheap hydro generated electricity. Connect the dots was a familiar phrase after 9/11. Looking at industrialization and the need for energy [oil & natural gas] if usage is beginning to escalate as has been reported then the war in Iraq, drilling in ANWAR, our coal reserves, and much more should be put on the chalk board as dots to look at.

On the bright side all the auto junk yards could be turned into parks because one dot on the board would be the shredding and compression of the junk. Who knows maybe like turning in firearms as an amnesty means of reducing weapons on the streets all the huge hunks of metal traveling our highways could be a target of reduction. That metal could be sold to China because the one thing China doesn't have right now is a home grown good supply of the variety of metals needed to manufacture. As for motor homes and those types of luxury items the enclosers if sectioned off and smaller they would make nice horse drawn ways to travel.

A not so very nice thought is that if we don't find alterative energy sources and India & China out produce us at a cheaper rate. Their citizens might in the future complain about outsourcing jobs to America.

JohnRN · 03-17-2005, 16:37

Honestly, this was a loooooooooooooong time in the making. There have been several discussions already about proposed undersea pipelines.

Also, about selling the F-16s and nuclear technology, isn't there still an embargo on both nations following the nuclear tests in the late 90s?

Also, I thought there was a Congressional ban on selling those F-16s to Pakistan, under the Clinton Administration, correct?

And as regards the 'easing' of tension... I'm not too sure that much progress is possible with Musharaff in charge. Ofcourse, this also largely depends on the extend of pressure US can apply on the man.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianK

A not so very nice thought is that if we don't find alterative energy sources and India & China out produce us at a cheaper rate. Their citizens might in the future complain about outsourcing jobs to America.

My Father is of the opinion that this is a possibility in the not-so-far-future. We have a wager of about 100 quid (which is a pittance but it's all I can afford) by what year India's economic strength will start leaving marks on the US. My Father wagers 2030-2040. I say nothing before 2050, perhaps because I have a jaded view of our political leadership while he has more current information and has more faith in the industrialists and the business class (not to forget the growing power and affluence of the Middle Class).

In essence he might be right. When the current government was sworn into power, there was the very real possibility that the Communists would be an essential part of the coalition government. My Father (and I) are of the opinion that it was largely pressure applied by the industrialist sector that sent the Communists packing. This shows the growing influence of the business sector - especially in light of their impotence during the days of the Liscence Raj - when India viewed itself as a leading beacon of Socialism (which we still have in our Preamble to our Constitution).

BrianK · 03-17-2005, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by John.

My Father is of the opinion that this is a possibility in the not-so-far-future. We have a wager of about 100 quid (which is a pittance but it's all I can afford) by what year India's economic strength will start leaving marks on the US. My Father wagers 2030-2040. I say nothing before 2050, perhaps because I have a jaded view of our political leadership while he has more current information and has more faith in the industrialists and the business class (not to forget the growing power and affluence of the Middle Class).

In essence he might be right. When the current government was sworn into power, there was the very real possibility that the Communists would be an essential part of the coalition government. My Father (and I) are of the opinion that it was largely pressure applied by the industrialist sector that sent the Communists packing. This shows the growing influence of the business sector - especially in light of their impotence during the days of the Liscence Raj - when India viewed itself as a leading beacon of Socialism (which we still have in our Preamble to our Constitution).

John I'd go with your fathers side of the bet. I'd even bump it up a little to 2020 with 2025 being the far end of some conversion. As a help to others I've looked up what 100 quid translates to. Quid is slang for British pound. A pound right now equals a little over 51 cents.

1.00 USD United States Dollars = 0.519583 GBP United Kingdom Pounds
1 USD = 0.519583 GBP 1 GBP = 1.92462 USD

It didn't surprise me that a bet was made. The bet sort of makes my point that the leadership of other countries do look out for the best interest of their citizens. Not caring by the average person in the general population is no different there than here, I'm glad that point wasn't an issue with you.

Now about the bet. You can see what some wealth does, community improvements as the beginning. People everywhere want a better life for themselves and their children. Once manufacturing begins to make that happen IMO it's going to progress pretty quickly. Quickly would be in 15 to 20 more years for me.

Meanwhile your reply and my thought would probably be dismissed as "not possible" by teens and those that are so busy trying to make a living that they can't imagine the sceanario.

JohnRN · 03-17-2005, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianK

John I'd go with your fathers side of the bet. I'd even bump it up a little to 2020 with 2025 being the far end of some conversion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianK

Meanwhile your reply and my thought would probably be dismissed as "not possible" by teens and those that are so busy trying to make a living that they can't imagine the sceanario.

You are scaring me Brian!

I've noticed that it's the adults and the older generation (like yourself) who are putting up this figure of about 2025-2035 while most of the younger generation types (like myself) find THAT figure to be incredulous and are thus cynically claiming the "nothing earlier than 2050".

This isn't just an isolated claim. I'm basing this on asking lots of people. The elders usually come to similar conclusions while the younger generation disbelieves it to be true.

I have a feeling that I'm going to lose my bet with Father - the man has been in banking and finance all his life and it's his business/job to note how the market and the economy is doing. He obviously has a tremendous lead in knowledge over me, a lowly nurse. Besides, the man has the advantage of age and experience.

All I can say is, I'm not entierly sure about my feelings regarding the matter.

PS: When I meant 100 'quid', I meant a 100 Indian Rupees (roughly 2 USD). I don't think I could ever afford a 100 British Pounds as after all I'm just a lowly student!

Bluehawk · 03-17-2005, 19:45

America government needs to get a grip, mind its own business, and allow capitalism flourish wherever it sees fit to flourish.

At the present time, there are the following pipelines running every which way across Iraq connecting directly into Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel and Jordan:

- From Yanbo to Dhahran, then to Riyadh and Bahrain
- From Basra south toward Riyadh
- From Haifa to south of Kuwait City
- From Sidon to Kirkuk
- From Tripoli to north of Mosul
- From Banias to Isfahan
- From Yumurtalik to Baghdad
- From Ankara to Baghdad
- From Tabriz to Tehran and then south to link with the line from Ahyaz and Banias
- From Baghdad to Arak
- From Haditha to Kirkuk

As soon as Afghanistan gets safe enough to do some major scale industrial work in, there ARE gonna BE about as many petroleum and natural gas lines running all over that improverished nation too... and a good many of them ARE gonna connect directly into and across Iran and a few central asian nations.

Why do people think Newt was SOOOOOOOO intense about getting those roads in Afghanistan paved, eh?

BrianK · 03-17-2005, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by John.

I have a feeling that I'm going to lose my bet with Father - the man has been in banking and finance all his life and it's his business/job to note how the market and the economy is doing. He obviously has a tremendous lead in knowledge over me, a lowly nurse. Besides, the man has the advantage of age and experience.

All I can say is, I'm not entierly sure about my feelings regarding the matter.

PS: When I meant 100 'quid', I meant a 100 Indian Rupees (roughly 2 USD). I don't think I could ever afford a 100 British Pounds as after all I'm just a lowly student!

John I put the part about teens and young people striving to make a living because I understand looking forward. Unfortunately like your father I to have age on my side and am looking back. When we were aging the world was not progressing as it is now. The world population was no where near what it is now. And communications were radio and some TV but not a lot of international broadcasts. We've seen change, growth, and how the other half lives.

People your age take this for granted because it has been in place. One small example for you to consider. Shoes!!!. What does it take to make one pair? Try to imagine everything from excavating for the ingriedients to processing and delivery. Now magnify that by what will be as factories and homes in China & India increase. Population growth and the need for a variety of shoes for the different jobs. Don't forget to include the machinery it takes to make the machinery to make shoes & all the other incidentals like shoe laces or velcro closures. As you might guess the entire resource consuming of all kinds of materials begins to surface. Now apply that to oil. Oil is the underlying product to make it all happen. That same oil is being used at a rate far beyond any previous projections with no replacement.

Rumors denied by the Saudis that oil production will peak in 2008 and begin decline would be on track with what your father & I project. ANWAR drilling isn't about lowering prices it's about having a supply that will be constant enough to keep America at a competative advantage. Maybe in your lifetime you will remember the predictions of your father and me. I'd like to say you will remember and laugh because we were wrong but with ever expanding demand I doubt you will be laughing. Who knows future hospitals might include on site housing for doctors and nurses with all other typical community needs within walking distance. If I were you I'd buy a few pair of comfortable shoes and tuck them away for future use.

Now about lowly nurse. No such thing. If you meant wage wise then a better comment would have been a lowly paid student studying nursing. Not going for reprimand only saying that everybody is equal. Without whatever ability contributed by each and everyone we'd be no better off than some insects. Even then many manage to contribute to their societal structure. I guess "lowly" hits me the wrong way. Like when someone says " I'm just a " and refer to whatever work they do. Humans are inter dependent other wise as it is now we'd have a lot of naked starving people in our streets.