Sarah Paine EP 1: The War For India (Lecture & Interview)

[+OverSword]

a lecture series by Professor Sarah Paine of the Naval War College, each followed by a deep Q&A. In this first episode, Prof Paine talks about key decisions by Khrushchev, Mao, Nehru, Bhutto, & Lyndon Johnson that shaped the whole dynamic of South Asia today.

[pellinore]

Can't be bothered to watch a YT. What's the TL/DR in a sentence?

If it was Sarah Palin it might has some comedy value.

Edited February 11 by pellinore

[+OverSword]

4 minutes ago, pellinore said:

Can't be bothered to watch a YT. What's the TL/DR in a sentence?

If it was Sarah Palin it might has some comedy value.

Here we are blessed enough to be able to listen to a renowned historian, author, and professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College lecture for free on a device at our leisure and some can't be bothered.  Watch it or don't 

[pellinore]

7 minutes ago, OverSword said:

Here we are blessed enough to be able to listen to a renowned historian, author, and professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College lecture for free on a device at our leisure and some can't be bothered.  Watch it or don't 

Lol! Now Trump is POTUS I doubt any academics or professors will be involved in US policy.

[Ajay0]

The Cold War saw nuclear-armed US-Nato and the Soviet Union along with China ready to blow each other up any moment in a nuclear holocaust.

This is the reason why India created the non-aligned movement along with other like-minded countries to ensure a buffer space between the two blocs which can enable diplomacy and constructive dialogue between the two blocs leading to deeper empathy and mutual understanding, peace and progress. 

India is an emerging superpower in its own right and is the fourth strongest military and economic power in the world. It has the second largest army in the world which is a battle-hardened one as well, and its large youthful population means it can muster any number of similar armies in a short span of time. Its NCC progam at college level means that over two million youth each year graduate with basic military training.

India has recently completed its nuclear triad and is capable of launching nuclear weapons through strategic bombers, nuclear submarines and ICBM's.

However, considering the terrific damage these weapons can cause to humanity, India has adopted a policy of no first use on moral and humanitarian grounds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_first_use

It has also adopted a total ban on both  chemical and biological weapons and engages only in developing defensive warfare capabilities on the same.

In the interests of peace and humanity, India has also declared its intention to eliminate its nuclear weapons provided there is universal disarmament among the other nuclear weapons states as well through dialogue and consensus.

Considering the potential of nuclear weapons to wipe out entire nations and populations, it is important that the US, Russia and Europe similarly  adopt a no first use policy with regard to nuclear weapons. This should also be the first priority of the UN in these times of heightened conflict and tensions between the nuclear powers.

[Alchopwn]

Sarah Paine is a very level headed and well-informed analyst and historian of the Cold War.  I've watched pretty much all of her YT lectures.  

She is completely correct about how the USA fumbled the ball on India by signing agreements with Pakistan.  Pakistan is not a reliable ally, and is presently within China's sphere of influence, and a failed state to boot.  The USA handled the entire situation very badly, and there should have been a long term alliance between India and the USA, as India is the world's largest Anglophone Democracy.  This represents the USA's largest cold war diplomatic fumble.

Edited February 12 by Alchopwn