>generally that is what these polls do, count the "middle classs" thought
>that class is of a sizeable number in India (numerically, not neccessarily
>in percentage) . It will be intreasting to see what Pakistan's response
>will be, my self being originally from there, my guess is that some of the
>fanatic religious groups are calling for the test, as may be the army.
>However, Nawaz Sharif (the PM) an industrialist, has tended to do things
>his own way. Others, the industrialists, and the more "professional class"
>are suggesting that there not be a nuclear test, and that Pakistan should
>instead exploit the situation to its own benefit, by asking for things
>like loan forgiveness, and economic assistance from the west in exchange
>for not testing its nuclear capabilities. Given that Pakistan, in all
>probablity, has the capablity, it would be prudent to go this course...
>although the pressure on the PM is pretty intense, it seems to go ahead
>with the test...
I just talked with Mira Kamdar of the World Policy Institute, who's going to be on my radio show tomorrow. She sounded as if China were more on India's mind than Pakistan; do other folks agree with that? Also, she says the U.S. seems to have no idea what's going on; when Strobe Talbott visisted WPI the other month, he said in response to her question that he hadn't thought about the BJP, or an Indian bomb, or much of anything about India it seemed. She's convinced that sanctions will only make things worse; there's a widespread feeling in India that the country has never been taken seriously. Sounds like there's a heavily phallic aspect to it - the NY Times quoted someone using the word "eunuch" today, and Kamdar confirms this, um, thrust. So we have a scary party that seems to deserve the word "fascist," feeling its oats, and likely to be emboldened by US-led sanctions, with the US itself largely ignorant of the situation.
CNBC has helpfully been pointing out stocks that will suffer from sanctions.
Doug