Obama appoints Indian-American Rajiv Shah to head USAID

[Patriot]

He got the job on merit not because Obama wanted to appoint Indians and secondly He is American first and will always work for American interests...He is a government officer not some sold out senator.

 

[Peshwa]

I disagree on two counts. We are not discussing the activities of a private businessman of Jewish, Chinese, French, German, or Togan heritage. We are discussing the appointment of a technocratic professional who's long been employed by the U.S. Government and his transfer from one agency to another subject to confirmation.

And your point is that just because he happens to be a "professional" or a technocrat that he will not sympathize with his community or have biases??....
Besides nowhere have I suggested in my post that his appointment is meant to be a boon in disguise of some kind for India and Indians.....
Nor have I suggested that he was posted to his rank because of his ethnicity......
All I said was that if Jewish politicians and businessman sympathize with Israeli causes....same can be applied to Indians in similar positions of power....

I strongly question, also, the foreign policy influence exerted by Mike Bloomberg or Bobby Jindal. They are elected representatives of constituents comprised of a broad range of religions, races, and ethnicities in NYC and the state of Louisiana. They provide, at best, only the most tenuous influence from those positions upon the foreign policy decisions rendered by our government.

In the current scenario, both are not as "influential" so as to dictate foreign policy of the US.....

Jindal was an example because he was a probable for the vice-presidency this past election......

Michael Bloomberg has long been speculated to run for presidency....and has been quite vocal towards his support for the Israeli offensive recently......see link:
Bloomberg’s Outlook Is Stern on Israel and Hamas - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

My point stands......If this man is elected in a position of power, how can one be sure that his decisions will not be biased in favor of his community??

In the case of Dr.Shah....let me make myself clear that I do not think that he has been selected for this position for anything other than his credentials...
But favoring ones own is but natural....so having a "soft side" for India cannot be ruled out....

We are a multi-ethnic nation. Most close and strong linkages to past nationalities erode quickly under the new realities of America-within a generation or two at most. We celebrate the diversity of our separate heritages but it stops where the daily responsibilities of our shared futures lie..

Well you may have your reasons to believe the above, but in my expirience, certain communities, Indians especially tend to favor their own.....

But as I mentioned in my previous post, no one is expecting these high ranking people to favor India at the cost of the US, but in matters of events like support to India after 26/11 etc......backing our actions, retaliations to the same is the kind of advantages we can possibly hope from such a connection.....Thats all.....

But to each his own, Im not here to change your opinion....Im here to provide my POV
You can disagree and I still will feel the same.......

Thanks....

 

[Peshwa]

Did someone mention Bobby Jindal

Have you heard him talk about his "Indian Origins"? I have. Trust me, the guy is nowhere near the patriotic Indian that you are imagining him to be. His Indian origins are in the same league as the English origins of Hillary Clinton. Just an interesting fact, and a way to explain your brown skin.

Completely agreed......If I remember correctly, didnt he change his religion to get elected??

Anyways....his name was mentioned in the context because he was highlighted as a "probable" for the vice-presidency this past elections and similar speculations about the "advantages" for India were floating around....

 

[S-2]

"And your point is that just because he happens to be a "professional" or a technocrat that he will not sympathize with his community or have biases??...."

My point is that his professional performance of his duties has offered no such hint that he has sympathies or bias. That, by itself, is speculative and unproven-no matter how possible that he might take pride in his Indian heritage.

Nor was it likely a consideration for or against his nomination to his new post as Director, U.S. Aid.

"Besides nowhere have I suggested in my post that his appointment is meant to be a boon in disguise of some kind for India and Indians....."

Without question Kaali did.

"Jindal was an example because he was a probable for the vice-presidency this past election......

Michael Bloomberg has long been speculated to run for presidency....and has been quite vocal towards his support for the Israeli offensive recently..."

I don't know that Jindal was "probable". That he ISN'T V.P. seems to suggest "probable" is a reach. I don't recall him turning down the offer to run as Vice-President. Did he do so?

As for Bloomberg, I also was supportive of the Israeli offensive against Hamas. I'm not jewish though. Catholic is my faith. One doesn't automatically follow the other. Further, speculation of campaigning for U.S. president is far removed from sitting in the White House.

So, without question, I continue to assert that neither of your examples exert influence on U.S. foreign policy from their current elected positions. Nor do they wear any particular religious or national bias visibly on their sleeves in the performance of their elected duties.

"But as I mentioned in my previous post, no one is expecting these high ranking people to favor India at the cost of the US..."

No. We are not expecting such at any point whatsoever. That would, IMV, make them unregistered foreign agents.

"... but in matters of events like support to India after 26/11 etc......backing our actions, retaliations to the same is the kind of advantages we can possibly hope from such a connection.....Thats all...."

That's TOO MUCH from the Director, U.S. Aid. It's entirely out of his purview.

If asked on the matter by a reporter were such to occur again I'd hope that he'd publically define the limits of his responsibilities, refuse to answer the question, and distance himself as far from that question or the subsequent insinuations as humanly possible. I'm actually certain that he would.

" in my expirience, certain communities, Indians especially tend to favor their own....."

In my experience, about the time their children marry outside that community, race, or religion, it begins to erode. Welcome to the insidious nature of assimilation. We do it better than any and we'll see in a generation or two how that affects the Indian community. There are very few religious, national, or racial bloodlines that stay completely pure in America. We usually end up "mutts" and like it that way.

Mutts are hardy and don't carry unnecessary baggage about.

"But to each his own, Im not here to change your opinion....Im here to provide my POV..."

Yeah, well I'M here because I consider an Indian's (Kaali's) comments on a Pakistani board as trolling by insinuating America's policies in a manner that could be construed as threatening to our hosts. It was rude, unnecessary and he/she was from the wrong nation for such an insinuation.

Thanks.

 

[GLOBAL HAWK]

Aaaaaah Crap

The guy Rajiv Shah was indeed appointed coz of his track record or merit.

Chill mates!!!, He is an AMERICAN of Indian origin. That's plain simple as it is.

why make fuss bout it??. America is a land of opportunity. It has people of diff races from all over the world.

whenever a topic of this nature arises, I see Indian members rising to say"look He's an Indian" the same happened earlier this year with Noble Laureate for chemistry.

Looking to rebut this Other members come up with counter arguments like "He's not Indian".

So members make a note of the event and leave it there

 

[Peshwa]

Agree with most of what you have said.....

"... but in matters of events like support to India after 26/11 etc......backing our actions, retaliations to the same is the kind of advantages we can possibly hope from such a connection.....Thats all...."

That's TOO MUCH from the Director, U.S. Aid. It's entirely out of his purview. .

The statements you quoted was in relation to the election of Bobby Jindal.....an assumption "IF" he had been elected to the office....NOT to the position of Mr.Shah.

Below is the link FYI which speaks of his possible contention for the VP post....

Bobby Jindal as Vice President - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Thanks....

 

[Developereo]

I agree with Peshwa.

It is simplistic and disingenuous to believe that people will forget their past and forsake all their sympathies just because they hop on a plane and go to another country.

Most immigrants maintain close ties to friends, families and associates back home and with their ethnic community in the new land. The Indian-American community is fully active in India's support, like all other communities.

This is not to imply that Dr. Shah would put Indian interests above American interests, but it is certainly reasonable to expect him to be more helpful to the Indian lobby than, say, the Pakistani lobby.

To deny the obvious is disingenuous.

 

[S-2]

"It is simplistic and disingenuous to believe that people will forget their past and forsake all their sympathies just because they hop on a plane and go to another country."

It is more simplistic and disingenuous to fail researching the past of our subject before making such a contention.

Here's what little I know- Dr. Shah was born in 1973. His parents immigrated to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1973! So they either brought a swaddling babe to America's shores with no memory of India or he was born an American.

"This is not to imply that Dr. Shah would put Indian interests above American interests, but it is certainly reasonable to expect him to be more helpful to the Indian lobby than, say, the Pakistani lobby."

Showing favoritism to any particular lobby other than the interests of America would be unreasonable and unacceptable. Doing so on behalf of one country over another's lobby even more so.

Read this man's seriously impressive credentials, if you don't mind. He's been a VERY busy man in 36 years of life and has, already, amassed a serious resume of accomplishments on behalf of America. He'll be fine and we're indeed fortunate that his parents came to our nation.

A great example of why immigration benefits America so strongly. NOT INDIA. NOT PAKISTAN.

AMERICA.

Thanks.

 

[S-2]

This discussion detracts from this young man's serious credentials. He will be 37 this coming March. He holds an undergrad degree from the Univ. of Michigan, whom my Badgers shall beat upon this Saturday but is an otherwise outstanding institution.

He is an M.D., earning THAT degree at the Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical College-an equally superb institution. Finally, he possesses a MsSc (Masters of Sciences) from the Wharton School Of Business at Penn and has studied at the London School of Economics. Since then, Dr. Shah has remained rather busy-

"In his tenure at USDA, Dr. Shah launched the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)– a new scientific institute created to elevate and enhance the capacity of agricultural research to address sustainable food production around the world, climate change, bioenergy and human nutrition. This National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) adopts best practices from across the federal science community and works with universities, extension programs, and the private sector. The Institute also includes the 4-H program – the largest federal youth program – which reaches 6 million young Americans and the Cooperative Extension Service which includes staff in nearly every county in the United States. NIFA has been developing innovative partnerships across the federal government including the Department of Defense as it works to support military families.

Prior to his appointment at USDA, Shah worked in a range of leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation including Director of Agricultural Development, Director of Financial Services, leader of the Strategic Opportunities initiative and manager of the Foundation’s $1.5 billion commitment to the Vaccine Fund. He also came up with the idea for the International Finance Facility for Immunization to transform the global system of vaccine financing, and worked to secure donor commitments of more than $5 billion for this facility. Before joining the Gates Foundation, Shah was a health care policy advisor on the Al Gore presidential campaign, 2000 and a member of Governor Ed Rendell's (D-PA) transition committee on health."

If I were Pakistani, I'd be VERY NICE to Dr. Shah and do all I could to cultivate good relations with him. He can be most helpful and shall remain so for some time as he's quite young but, I suspect, hardly impressionable.

Just the kind of guy Agnostic Muslim should get to know in America before HE immigrates-which I fervantly hope.

 

[Developereo]

Here's what little I know- Dr. Shah was born in 1973. His parents immigrated to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1973! So they either brought a swaddling babe to America's shores with no memory of India or he was born an American.

It wouldn't matter if he was third generation American. The fact is that South Asian culture is very pervasive in our lives and many immigrant families are closely tied to their expat community. This is not unique to South Asians. I know Cuban-Americans, Puerto-Rican Americans and El-Salvadorean Americans are the same way, and this is probably true of people from many traditional cultures.

The point is that Dr. Shah is well aware of his ethnic roots.

You can take the man out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the man.

Showing favoritism to any particular lobby other than the interests of America would be unreasonable and unacceptable. Doing so on behalf of one country over another's lobby even more so.

Politicians and government employees regularly support their favorite lobbies, either because they received bribes, erm, contributions, or because of ideological reasons. Congressmen join country-speciic caucuses all the time. Look at Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a hardcore pro-Israel, pro-India congressman...

In addition, he is the Present Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. In 2002, he was awarded India's third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan for his contributions as member of the India Caucus in the Congress

I am not saying Dr. Shah would openly support India, but he can certainly provide Washington insider contacts and helpful advice to the Indian lobby. Again, not at the expense of US interests, but when those interests are not affected.

 

[Khajur]

I dont think his indian origin would make any difference to pakistani aid...infact he may feel more pressure to remove any doubt rising out of that and end up acting more pious than the pope.

On other hand some people are right to imagine an that person would have soft corner for the country of his origin as long as that doesnt hurt his host nation,after all we human beings and we do get affectd by many things.

@S2

Lastest attacks by that doctor at ur army base and numerous instances terror plots of second gen pakistani origin citizens of UK aganist UK and joining Taliban ranks in Afghanistan aganist British forces clearly negate ur assimilation theoy of a "complete disconnection" .

If any pakistani regardless of his nationality doubts this man crediblity due to his indian origins he knows wats he talking about.

 

[Spring Onion]

Poor chap wanted to dance by posting the thread because an American of Indian origin was appointed to USAID hmmm Big news.

Anyway does it matter who heads the USAID? The organisation will work according to own rules and the money spent and projects started in different countries are decided by US lawmakers isnt it ?

 

[Peshwa]

This discussion detracts from this young man's serious credentials. He will be 37 this coming March. He holds an undergrad degree from the Univ. of Michigan, whom my Badgers shall beat upon this Saturday but is an otherwise outstanding institution.

.

Ahhh You're a Big Ten Man ....Thanks for the nice comment....I happen to be a Michigan Alum....
I dont see how your "rodents" would be able to beat the Mighty Wolverines.....looks like we differ on more than one opinion....
Though this season has not gone as we had expected.....

Ive always wanted to visit Madison....heard its a big party school!!

 

[S-2]

"Ive always wanted to visit Madison....heard its a big party school!!"

We're happy to flunk you out if you can't study as hard as you party. We modestly believe that, like you, we sit in the public ivy.

"rodents"?

Don't confuse a badger with a Minnesota Gopher, please. There's nothing rodent about this and little more that a Badger enjoys than a Gopher snack-

We'll see how matters go this Saturday. You look ripe for a beatdown (for a change) and nobody's forgotten leading 19-0 at halftime last year in Ann Arbor and losing 27-25. THAT was exceedingly painful for any Badger.

Good luck.

 

[Hulk]

This kind of threads when started do more harm then gain.
Its good that someone of Indian origin got to higher ranks in US government. The discussion here might make others to believe about his neutrality, even if you feel someone will favor you what is the need to blow your trumpet.