The RAND Corporation’s Derek Grossman and the Wilson Center’s Michael Kugelman should be considered unofficial representatives of the US Government due to their employers’ funding.
This is GREAT reporting at its best and warns the citizens of the master mind behind the curtain. Bless you, Andrew. Been following you for some time and find your reporting has earned at the very least a cup of coffee. I will try to share my meager income further. I don't mind being poor until I find others I'd love to support.
"...Grossman and Kugelman should be considered unofficial representative of the USG..."
Not without good reason is America's guiding hand so often called the 'Deep State', though it seems to me it would more appropriately be called what it is, i.e. simply a corrupt state.
Even if they weren't "de facto government employees," the wider US media/academic/think tank complex is generally closely aligned with the USG when it comes to promoting and sustaining "US primacy" globally and regionally. The "experts" on Europe, Russia, China, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are just like those on South Asia.
But as to the punditry on the fall of Hasina, I agree that the China/Pakistan angle promoted in the Indian media makes little sense. I also agree that there is no obvious way for US and Chinese interests in Bangladesh to align. And, while US meddling is always a possibility almost anywhere on the planet, and clearly, the US has been selectively critical of Hasina (compared to, say, Sisi or many others), it's not clear what the strategic end state of a US-instigated coup against Hasina would be. That depends on the ability to manipulate the key players--the Army, BNP and JEI--into some preferred outcome. The US track record on that kind of thing isn't all that good, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't try.
At least Derek pretends to be neutral. Mikey Kugelman is a loyal attack mutt of the ISI.
Considering the Wilson Centre guy is an utterly dumb moron, who doesn't know anything about, well, anything, if the US got him for cheap, good for America.
This is GREAT reporting at its best and warns the citizens of the master mind behind the curtain. Bless you, Andrew. Been following you for some time and find your reporting has earned at the very least a cup of coffee. I will try to share my meager income further. I don't mind being poor until I find others I'd love to support.
Thank you so much, I sincerely appreciate it, Paula!
"Few Indians Know"... I bet Kamala does!
"...Grossman and Kugelman should be considered unofficial representative of the USG..."
Not without good reason is America's guiding hand so often called the 'Deep State', though it seems to me it would more appropriately be called what it is, i.e. simply a corrupt state.
Excellent analysis, thanks!
Even if they weren't "de facto government employees," the wider US media/academic/think tank complex is generally closely aligned with the USG when it comes to promoting and sustaining "US primacy" globally and regionally. The "experts" on Europe, Russia, China, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are just like those on South Asia.
But as to the punditry on the fall of Hasina, I agree that the China/Pakistan angle promoted in the Indian media makes little sense. I also agree that there is no obvious way for US and Chinese interests in Bangladesh to align. And, while US meddling is always a possibility almost anywhere on the planet, and clearly, the US has been selectively critical of Hasina (compared to, say, Sisi or many others), it's not clear what the strategic end state of a US-instigated coup against Hasina would be. That depends on the ability to manipulate the key players--the Army, BNP and JEI--into some preferred outcome. The US track record on that kind of thing isn't all that good, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't try.
At least Derek pretends to be neutral. Mikey Kugelman is a loyal attack mutt of the ISI.
Considering the Wilson Centre guy is an utterly dumb moron, who doesn't know anything about, well, anything, if the US got him for cheap, good for America.