We're correcting that historical error:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates heads to India this week to promote a blossoming "strategic partnership" with a country that has strongly endorsed the US-led mission in Afghanistan.
Defense officials said Gates' two-day visit is part of an effort to cultivate a broad relationship with India, a country Washington recognizes as an increasingly powerful player on the international stage.
"We obviously view India as a regional power and emerging global power," a senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters.
"The key objectives for the trip are to emphasize the importance of this bilateral relationship, and the role defense relations play in advancing the strategic partnership," he said ahead of Gates' scheduled arrival on Tuesday.
Interesting enough, one of the factors moving us closer is our common potential foe China. And China was the reason India was once a firm friend of the Soviet Union--both viewed China as a potential foe. It would be nice if shared democratic values makes our friendship firmer, but balance of power interests rather than democratic values surely pushed us together.
