We have failed terribly at two important things. One, we are reacting to this issue only emotionally, not logically. And two, we are not asking the right questions.
WhatsApp privacy policy case is among a string of matters involving practices like restrictive platform rules, pricing & billing policies, reflecting India’s tight scrutiny of market dominance.
Bihar is blessed with a land more fertile for revolutions than any in India. Why has it fallen so far behind then? Constant obsession with politics is at the root of its destruction.
President Putin has his own set of grievances against the United States, which he articulates forcefully. Unilateral action in Afghanistan, Iraq; also Libya, which he felt could lead to similar chaos in Syria. On Crimea and Ukraine, he believes Russia was defending core interests, with NATO not respecting its post 1991 assurances not to breathe down Russia’s neck. On interference in the internal politics of a rival, he is convinced a foreign hand is at work in Russia. Difficult for a lay observer to judge which side is being completely truthful. 2. The new Cold War is not good for the two adversaries and for Europe. Countries like Germany have scaled back defence spending from almost 3% of GDP in 1991 to 1.2% now. A greying Continent with an expensive social security net requires its peace dividend. What Russia could hope to gain from interference in the US election process remains hazy, considering that any hostile act shows up on American screens. The strong bipartisan consensus against Russia and its ruling elite show that Russian foreign policy is not working / successful. 3. The two Presidents need to meet more often and attempt a genuine outreach. At a time when US commitment to its closest friends and allies in Europe and Asia is weakening – one cannot judge if President Trump alone is responsible or other longer term trends are at work – it is also in the EU’s interests to attempt to repair the relationship with Russia.
President Putin has his own set of grievances against the United States, which he articulates forcefully. Unilateral action in Afghanistan, Iraq; also Libya, which he felt could lead to similar chaos in Syria. On Crimea and Ukraine, he believes Russia was defending core interests, with NATO not respecting its post 1991 assurances not to breathe down Russia’s neck. On interference in the internal politics of a rival, he is convinced a foreign hand is at work in Russia. Difficult for a lay observer to judge which side is being completely truthful. 2. The new Cold War is not good for the two adversaries and for Europe. Countries like Germany have scaled back defence spending from almost 3% of GDP in 1991 to 1.2% now. A greying Continent with an expensive social security net requires its peace dividend. What Russia could hope to gain from interference in the US election process remains hazy, considering that any hostile act shows up on American screens. The strong bipartisan consensus against Russia and its ruling elite show that Russian foreign policy is not working / successful. 3. The two Presidents need to meet more often and attempt a genuine outreach. At a time when US commitment to its closest friends and allies in Europe and Asia is weakening – one cannot judge if President Trump alone is responsible or other longer term trends are at work – it is also in the EU’s interests to attempt to repair the relationship with Russia.