USA's arrogance - world is keeping its eyes down - India's GSLV launch - reason for every cheer

Nikhil Mohan Gupta                                                                                                                                                 

    USA gives $5 million to India - USA tries to maintain peace in Middle East and South-east Asia - Headlines like these are heard every day, in every newspaper, but don't you think that this country, superpower in every field has gone too far in ruling this world. It indulges in talks between two countries and tries to mould their policy in its own favour. 

    When India and Pakistan try to indulge in dialogues, they consider bringing a third party (read USA) to resolve their disputes. Why to give this king-like status to USA? One understands that USA has worked hard to be undisputed leaders in fields of economy, military, politics, and IT and so on. But does this give them the right to rule the world? No. In the recent spy plane row between USA and China, China gave US a hard fight to get back their crew. USA had to say that it is very sorry for the loss of a Chinese pilot and its intrusion into China's air-space. Had there been any other developing country instead of China, it would have bowed its head in front of USA and would have returned the crew and plane immediately. This clearly shows that China and only China (I think) has its indigenous potential to challenge USA and shatter its arrogance. Though there was a massive cold war between USSR and USA, that has been shattered due to the break-up of USSR. Now, I want to elucidate on some facts I have learnt through newspapers.

    Firstly, the National Missile Defence (NMD), which USA wants to build around itself and its allies. It is going to build a missile umbrella around its allies, which would obstruct the missiles which would be on their way to USA. And this would happen on the expense of other countries. As this project would be given to MNCs based in USA only, it would help its economy and military power to a great extent. And all this, saying that it wants to protect its allies. Clever, isn't it?

    Secondly, the much-talked Kyoto pact. This pact curbs the use and production of global warming gases to a large extent. Global warming has been increasing at an alarming rate year by year, and this increased the temperature of world and if this continues, one day, the glaciers of North and South pole would melt and submerge the coastal cities. And for all this, USA is responsible to a large extent. More than 50% of the global warming gases are produced in USA. But when America was asked to sign this pact, it refused as signing the pact would have affected it by a large extent. Global warming gases are also used in producing electricity in USA, and if it would have signed the pact, its electricity production would have been affected, and already USA is suffering from many blackouts.

    Thirdly, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). This treaty states that the country which signs this treaty, cannot test nuclear weapons. But the interesting part is that the already nuclear countries can continue with their tests with the only prohibition that they cannot transfer the nuclear technology to other countries. Isn't this unfair??

    Now, I would like to express my opinions on the latest GSLV (Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) launch on April 18th, by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). It was really a remarkable achievement by the Indian scientists who had been working day and night on this project for the last 10 years. It was a dream come true for them. On March 28th, an unsuccessful launch of the same flight had disheartened the whole of India but our scientists made every Indian proud by successfully launching GSAT-1 satellite into Geo-Transfer-Orbit (GTO), with its apogee of 36,000 km above Equator. With this launch, India has joined the elite group of five nations (US, Russia, China, France, European Union) who have this indigenous capability of launching satellites in GTO. 

    (May be I am wrong in some of the actual facts written in the above three paragraphs, please write to me about them, thank you)

    The US, which tried its damnedest to stymie India's progress towards achieving cutting edge space capability after giving its space program an initial boost, on Wednesday (April 18), acknowledged the country's technical virtuosity evident in the successful launch of its top-end GSLV. Due to US cussedness, the GSLV launch was delayed by four years. Russia wanted to sell India the cryogenic engines and even its technology which would have helped India to take a big leap from PSLV to GSLV but due to the Clinton administration's pressure, Russia stooped this sale. Meanwhile under a renegotiated contract, Russia sold seven cryogenic engines to India without the tech transfer. Though this launch was with Russia's engine, it won't be far away (may be 2003-04) when India  would launch the complete indigenous GSLV with its home-built cryogenic engine. I also want to mention that now US had recognised India's space prowess and has hailed this GSLV launch. 

    USA is superpower in economy scene, military, space, technology and almost all fields. It has worked hard and in the right direction to achieve this status. But the other countries also have a share of this earth, isn't it? Each country wants to share policies with USA and improve its condition and infrastructure. That's right but it should be done in a manner that both countries are benefited mutually. I hope the world community does not keep its eyes down and walk besides USA if not lead it.

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