Jul 04, 2003: Troops to Iraq: To send or not to send
	Should India send troops to Iraq or not? Related news items and different analytical perspectives. Rumsfeld: Desperately seeking troops http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030702/asp/frontpage/story_2124792.asp Decide early on Iraq Troops: US to India http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_297135,001300180038.htm India split over sending troops to Iraq http://in.news.yahoo.com/030623/137/25dz2.html  Annan disapproves of Indian troops in Iraq: report http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s883798.htm  To Send or Not To Send? By: Colonel (Retd) A Sridharan, VSM http://www.indiacause.com/OL/OL_030621_3.htm  When I was in the faculty of Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, Nilgiris, I have heard US student officers who are taken on a forward area tour along with other foreign officers undergoing training there, telling me, "our troops would never operate under such hostile conditions as the Indian army operates. We take our hats off not only to their bravery but also for maintaining such high morale and smile on their faces while operating under such terrible conditions of living in the forward posts and picquets". Send in the troops http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=26275  Early one morning in November 1988, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi received a telephone call from the foreign secretary of the Maldives, Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, who told him that unknown mercenaries had invaded the Maldives and President Gayoom had gone into hiding. Zaki appealed for immediate Indian military intervention. Say 'no' to America http://www.newstodaynet.com/guest/3006gu1.htm Yes, India can send its troops but on two conditions: The United States apologises to the Iraqi people for the devastation it has caused and repatriates every US soldier. A history lesson for Delhi http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EG02Df04.html The US pressure on India is described as a ruse to sacrifice Indian soldiers and save American lives as the moment Indian troops land in Iraq, the US will reduce theirs. The Americans will go back home with their heads high, of a battle won, George W Bush's ratings will soar, while the action will shift where it matters - to corporate boardrooms, over oil and reconstruction doles. Meanwhile, seething Iraqis will club Indian forces with invaders, and mete out similar treatment. Constructive Engagement: India Must Send Troops to Iraq http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=37156  We must approach the issue from a perspective of national interest. The US ambassador in Delhi has said that a negative decision by India will not affect the Indo-US relationship and New Delhi's decision should be based on calculations of national interest. It is only by agreeing to consider the proposition of sending troops to Iraq that India will be in a position to raise various issues with the US on the road map for an interim administration, constitution-making, elections America wants Indian troops in Iraq – but India must say no nicely. http://www.indiareacts.com/archivedebates/nat2.asp?recno=655  India has no history of deploying troops outside UN command, and in this instance, they will come under US or UK commanders, which the Indian army has opposed, as any self-respecting army would. India makes a meal of Iraq dilemma http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EG02Df05.html The Indian government is tying itself in all sorts of knots over whether or not to send troops to Iraq, when it could save itself the angst by simply listening to the voice of its people.