Slumdog Sidewinders, and high art. If anyone can embed this video, I'd appreciate it. It is a promotional video from Raphael Aerospace, an Israeli defense contractor for an Indian Arms and Aerospace Show. Quite moving. Filmed in Israel with Israeli and Georgian talent.
http://www.youtube.com/...
So what's the deal with with Arms sales to India?
The video is getting some wry criticism from the know it all press, but I think it has a certain macabre charm. If you look carefully, there's a Meghan McCain look-alike dancing in a Sari
As Mr. Shachtman points out, the song and dance number does seem to imply that “the Indian military is somehow like a helpless woman” with, as the lyrics suggest, a “need to feel safe and sheltered” by the arms maker, personified in the video by the male singer.
Bollywood Pitch
Israeli arms sales to India have grown quickly during the Bush administration. Geopolitically, the US has sought to improve trilateral relations between and among India, Israel and the United States to balance China's growing influence, and to drive a wedge between Iran and Israel, who have had historically extensive economic and cultural ties.
India's Major Tech Needs Are Often Met by Israel
In-Depth Coverage
By Doug Tsuruoka
It might surprise some to learn that India is the biggest arms buyer in the developing world — outspending China by $2.6 billion in 2005, for a grand total of $5.4 billion in weapons contracts, says the U.S. Congressional Research Service.
Another little-known fact is that the country that sold the most arms to India after top-ranked Russia in 2006 was the tiny nation of Israel.
Israel, with its population of 6 million and small domestic market, is one of the world's most active arms exporters. Much of what Israel sells comes from know-how it acquired in three major wars in the Middle East.
"The Israelis will sell to anybody," said John Pike, the head of defense researcher GlobalSecurity.org.
According to figures issued by the Indian government in early January, Israel sold India $1.5 billion worth of arms in 2006. Israel says it sold $4.2 billion worth of arms worldwide in 2006.
GlobalSecurity
India did not have diplomatic relations with Israel until 1992, under the Congress Party, but trade in Arms didn't really start until the election of the BJP, a more Nationalist Hindu Party. The Moslem Minority and Indian Communists sometimes object to this kind of strategic cooperation in light of the conditions of the Palestinians. Bilateral trade is between 3-4 Billion, about half of which it is arms sales.
Some see Mumbai terrorism as an attack on India-Israel ties
They cite the sophisticated attack on the Nariman House Jewish center. Relations between India and Israel have grown increasingly strong in recent years.
By Peter Spiegel
10:26 PM PST, January 31, 2009
Reporting from New Delhi -- Some counter-terrorism experts in India are convinced that the country's growing ties to Israel were a prime factor behind the targeting of a small Jewish center in the deadly Mumbai attacks.
LA Times
India is also providing technical assistance and expertise in the Kashmir Region in counter insurgency. . The region was also a popular destination for vacationing Israeli youths who have completed their National Service.
So what did you think of the video?