People's Democracy

EDITORIAL

Has India Become Poland?

POLAND, which was earlier part of the Warsaw Pact, is now a new entrant to the NATO.  Its government is also an enthusiastic supporter of the United States of America and slavishly supports all the aggressive measures of the Bush administration.  It is in recognition of its loyalty that the US has awarded one zone in Iraq to be run by the Polish army. 

In the recent NATO defence ministers' meeting, it was decided that the NATO countries would help Poland to control this zone and provide with logistical support and other equipment.  Poland is getting ten other countries to send contingents of troops and alongwith its own 2300 force, it will  have 8000 troops under its command.   The Polish  commander of the zone will be General Tyszkiewicz. 

What the Vajpayee government proposes to do is to send one division of the Indian army who will be given a sector in Iraq to run, just as the Poles have been given. The Indian General to head this division will be proclaimed the commander of the zone.  But the reality will be all these zonal commanders will be under the overall command of the US Army General who is in-charge of all the military operations in Iraq.  So far, the countries which have decided to send troops are members of the NATO, or, America's close military allies.  They include countries like Italy, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands and other East European countries who are all part of NATO.    Pakistan, which has also been asked, is willing to send troops. 

The Vajpayee government, which fancies itself to be a close ally of the United States, does  not want to miss this golden  opportunity to prove its loyalty. It has no compunctions in serving in Iraq which is under US occupation and to be part of the recolonisation of this proud Arab state.  Most of the countries which have agreed to send troops to Iraq have put their proposals in their Parliaments for approval. Italy, Netherlands, Denmark and other European countries have done so. Japan is also bringing a controversial legislation before its Parliament to allow its Self Defence Force to be sent to Iraq.  But the Indian government which is party to the unanimous resolution adopted in Parliament opposing the war on Iraq has no concern for either Parliament or the people's wishes. 

As far as the BJP and the Vajpayee government are concerned, we are no different from Poland which is acting as the trusted lackey of the United States.

All these countries are sending small contingents ranging from 400 to 2000 troops.  The largest is the Italian contingent which has 3000 soldiers. Significantly, India is being asked to send a full division which will be around fifteen thousand soldiers. If they are sent, then India will have the third biggest force after the US and Britain. This means Indian troops will play a bigger role in enforcing the US occupation.