Does anybody know if India has a lobby group in the U.S. equivalent

[The Backlash Cometh]

to Israel's A.I.P.A.C.?

I'm just wondering why everything seems to be going in their general direction with ease:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2143614

[DrGonzoLives]

1. Most countries have lobbying groups on K Street

I imagine that India does as well.

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2. Well, don't you think it should have a higher profile than it seems

to have considering that all our jobs are going over there? And the U.S. is planning a nuclear agreement with them?

[Greyhound]

3. I'm sure they do and why things go their way is simple.

Haven't you ever wondered where the $7.5 trillion! from the ".com bubble" went? Quite a bit of it went to India, who in turn, has given huge $$$ to political campaigns.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. So, we were Enronized by India?

[Greyhound]

7. Not India alone, by any means, but they were a major beneficiary. n/t

[acmejack]

5. Barbour, Griffith & Rogers

As in Haley, it's good to be connected! Do you see a pattern here, perhaps?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/14/AR2005091402612.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I refuse to believe...

that we are all going to be marching to the unemployment office and all it took was $700,000 in lobbying fees. Please tell me it takes a little more effort than that to destroy the United States of America. Someone? Anyone?

[acmejack]

9. You're right, it did

They had Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Field who they paid about 50K a month.

edit: for link http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=322

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. We must have some cheap whores running this country.

[acmejack]

11. Blackwill-headed firm to lobby for India

Diplomatic sources told The Tribune that New Delhi had decided to hire Washington lobbying firm Barbour Griffith & Rogers for “advice and counsel to further our objectives” in the US. Mr Blackwill, who served as Ambassador to India from July 2001 to July 2003, heads the firm.

Andrew Parasiliti, vice-president of Barbour Griffith & Rogers, told The Tribune, “Any announcement on this matter will come from the Government of India.” Mr Blackwill, he added, “is legally prohibited from representing foreign governments through a one-year cooling off period which began when he left the administration in November 2004.”
Mr Blackwill joined Barbour Griffith & Rogers in November 2004 after serving as Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy National Security Adviser for strategic planning. He also served as the presidential envoy to Iraq.

Indian diplomatic sources said Mr Blackwill did not play a role in securing the contract to lobby for the Government of India. He is legally barred from using his government contacts to lobby any deals until a year after his retirement from government — November 2005.

The so-called “cooling off” or “no contact” periods may apply to any matter before the official’s former agency, department or branch of government, regardless of whether or not one had worked on it while with the government. In addition, those high-level government officials who are subject to the “cooling off” or “no contact” bans are also prohibited, for one year after leaving their positions, from lobbying for, representing, aiding, or advising any official foreign entity with the intent to influence the official actions of any officer or employee of the department or agency of the United States, including members of the Congress.

One of the first challenges Mr Blackwill’s firm will face is to steer through Congress a civilian nuclear cooperation deal Mr Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed in Washington on July 18. The deal, if implemented, would dramatically shift the US non-proliferation policy and practice towards India.

[daa]

8. IBM, Intel, Microsoft,, you get the picture nt

[SteppingRazor]

10. Yes and no. India has US-InPAC...

But no country, and I mean no country, has a PAC quite like AIPAC.

In any case, US-InPac isn't even close to being in the same league:
http://www.fecwatch.org/pacs/lookup2.asp?strID=C00381699&cycle=2006


I think things are going in their direction for several reasons.

First, a massive pool of cheap labor, which gives them these economic opportunities with us.

Second, an important strategic location as a buffer between Far East and Middle Eastern Muslim nations, which gives them the military opportunities with us.

[acmejack]

12. Did you see that the ex ambassador sheperded the nuke deal thru?

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050825/world.htm#1

[SteppingRazor]

13. I'm aware of that, but...

I thought the question was whether there was a completely India-centric PAC.

Barbour, Griffith and Rogers will lobby for anyone -- the highest bidder, essentially

[acmejack]

14. Oh, I misunderstood in that case.

You know actually I did know that & went off in the heat of the chase and went off on a tangent. Bummer. I just learned a lot about India's lobbying activities in the last half decade though. I probably shouldn't have indulged myself in that early morning buzz...

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. I like tangents.

Sometimes you learn more from the tangent, than what was actually asked.