Indian elite's lovefest with the US

Although the proportion of Indians who favourably rate the US this year is significantly lower than last year's 71 percent, it is among the highest scores anywhere in the world, exceeded only by Japan and Nigeria. It stands in contrast to the sharp fall registered in America's rating since 1999 in France (from 62 to 39 percent), Germany (78 to 37), and Spain (50 to 23). Even in Britain, approval has slumped from 83 percent to 56.

Over the year, approval of the US has plummeted in every single European country barring Britain: in Germany (from 41 to 37 percent), France (43 to 39), Russia (52 to 43) and Spain (an even sharper 41 to 23 percent). Even more dismal is the fall in Turkey, a Nato member (23 to 12 percent). In Pakistan, the rating has risen marginally from an abysmal 23 percent to a poor 27 percent (less than half that of India's).

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Even worse, India's support for the US-led "global war on terrorism" (GWOT) stands at a record 65 percent -- the world's highest, and 13 percentage points greater than last year.

But, says the Pew Centre: elsewhere, support for the GWOT "is either flat or has declined. The Iraq war continues to exact a toll on America's overall image. Majorities in 10 of 14 foreign countries surveyed say that the war in Iraq has made the world a more dangerous place."

A global majority sees the Iraq occupation as a "greater danger to world peace" than Iran, "despite growing concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions." Forty-one percent of Britons say that the Iraq occupation represents a greater danger than the Tehran regime. In Russia, Spain, France, and China the relative proportions are 45:20, 56:38, 36:31, and 31:22. It is only in the US and Germany that the proportions are inverse -- 31:46 and 40:51. The rest of the world takes an even dimmer view. The threats attributed to the occupation exceed those from Iran by 3 times in Indonesia and 7 times in Pakistan.

However, Indians who regard the Iraq occupation as a threat to world peace are just 15 percent -- the world's lowest, and less than half the rating in the US. A huge 59 percent believe US can establish democracy in Iraq -- a desperate hope not shared by Americans!

The Indian support for the brutal occupation of Iraq is unique -- despite over 100,000 civilian deaths, an intractable insurgency, and discontent in the Arab world. Even Mr Bush admits that he made "mistakes" in Iraq.

Yet, the poll results don't necessarily show that all Indians are unable to make a judgment about war and peace. This is because the poll represents a narrow urban sample. The interviews were conducted amongst the 10 percent who have landline telephones.

It is an elite opinion poll.

Even so, the pro-US sentiment is shocking. Not long ago, the same elite ardently opposed American hegemony. The same policy-makers and-shapers have now become abjectly pro-America. Their admiration for "the American people" (67 percent) exceeds even their support for the US.

It would be simplistic to attribute this Americophilia to the Indo-US nuclear deal. That deal was only signed last July. Three other factors seem weightier: the burgeoning of a middle class under neo-liberal policies, deepened since 2000; the elite's moral-political disorientation; and the hangover of Hindutva's Islamophobia.

These produce callousness towards the cruelty of war and occupation, amnesia about the false excuses about weapons of mass destruction and about the US's generally baneful global influence.

The US occupation has created a far worse situation than that under Saddam. Despite a semblance of democracy -- under a constitution dictated by the occupation powers -- daily life is harsher and more insecure. There is systematic looting of the country's huge resources.

Saddam had his death and torture squads. But it's hard to say that the Abu Ghraib tortures, Fallujah's ravaging, or the Haditha massacre are any better. Haditha is the worst US massacre since My Lai.

The atrocious ways of US troops forced Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to say that their grave misconduct on a daily basis "has become common. No respect for citizens, smashing civilian cars and killing on a suspicion or a hunch. It's unacceptable."

In first-hand accounts published in Time and Newsweek, the occupation troops emerge as mentally unstable, high on drugs, and prone to perverse behaviour. Says ex-soldier Clif Hicks: US troops "were taking steroids, Valium, hooked on painkillers, drinking. They'd go on raids and patrols totally stoned."

He says, "There's a lot of guys who steal from the Iraqis. Money, family heirlooms, and then they brag about it. Guys would crap into MRE bags and throw them to old men begging for food."

Those who believe these are aberrations don't understand the insanity that sometimes sets in among soldiers who don't know why they are fighting. How else can one explain the sickening sadism of the four-minute video, called "Hadji Girl," apparently sung by a Marine? The lyrics read: "I grabbed her little sister and put her in front of me. As the bullets began to fly, the blood sprayed from between her eyes, and then I laughed maniacally... "

The US is not a benign power in Iraq. Nor elsewhere. It's out to establish an Empire. Its leaders barely hide their intentions. Colluding with them is the worst thing that a country's elite can do.

Praful Bidwai is an eminent Indian columnist.