Neighbours in Arms: An American Senator’s Quest for Disarmament in a Nuclear Subcontinent Kindle Edition

This is a clear, easy-to-read treatment of a complex subject: South Asia. I am not one who reads much about Foreign Policy or government in general but found this to be chock-full of the history that helps explain the current state of affairs. I work in the medical field and see how individual patients have been harmed and marginalized because of the "medical-industrial complex". Senator Pressler helps me understand how the "Military-Industrial complex" (or, as he calls it, the "Octopus") has done the same thing to the common U.S. Citizen. "We the people" are not being served well by our elected officials because they generally lack the honesty, integrity, and humility of Senator Pressler. We need more candidates who are truly independent of the nefarious impact of MONEY.

Senator Larry Pressler's book is is the most 'right on' recommendation I have seen regarding the US becoming a super -ally of India. Senator Pressler has been a long term ally of the subcontinent. He is a famous man in South Asia, as he should be for all he has done and continues to shine light on the US bilateral relationship.

Larry Pressler has written a very clear and valuable book for anyone wanting to understand how lobbying affects the making of US foreign policy.

An important account and well told by an eyewitness to this story.

Larry Pressler's book is a must read for anyone who worries about the proliferation of nuclear arms, especially given threats posed by North Korea as well as possibilities of Iran somehow gaining nuclear weapons too. Senator Pressler gives insights into the interplay between the President, Congress, the United Nations, foreign powers and especially the intrigue between India and Pakistan that only an insider would know. For example, how the Octopus is able to circumvent restrictions against foreign governments giving contributions to US politicians. He also explains how foreign nationals are able to lobby Federal government officials while complying with laws designed to prevent this from happening.The author's viewpoint about the Octopus, his term for what President Eisenhower labelled the military-industrial complex, is both fascinating and frightening. As past Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and former Chairman of the US Senate’s Arms Control Subcommittee, he has been in meetings with US Presidents and their cabinet members as well as other nations’ political leaders, many of whom are Octopus advocates and/or members. Consequently, he is able to recount the many secret insidious ways used by the Octopus to maintain its political and economic preeminence worldwide. Senator Pressler points out that the operations of the Octopus often create results that are not in the best interest of keeping the world safe. Thus the Octopus could inadvertently cause one of the world powers to use nuclear weapons causing mass losses and possibly result in Armageddon.Larry’s authorship of the Pressler Amendment and his defense of it against the onslaught of the Octopus is spellbinding. Despite his best efforts and those of his Democratic Party Senate colleague, John Glenn, the Octopus ultimately succeeded in sending strategic weapons to Pakistan, which led to nuclear proliferation of India and Pakistan. However, the Pressler Amendment’ was not in vain because the long delay it created in the US sending military aid to Pakistan was undoubtedly noticed by South Africa and Brazil. Thus the Pressler Amendment was probably a major factor in their so far not seeking to become nuclear armed nations. After all they did not want to lose their access to US conventional weapons’ foreign aid. Larry Pressler’s patriotic devotion to the safety of the United States and the rest of the world against the onslaught of the Octopus may lead to recognition of “Neighbours In Arms” as one of the 100 best books of the 21st Century!

This is an incredibly timely book. The essential stern here is how an undemocratic, autocratic and oligarchs nation was able to become a nuclear power against all reason and enlightened self-interest, both it's own and that of the USA. It is hard to know what to call Pakistan, not a dictatorship in the usual understanding of the term but under the see-sawing control of competing elites, out for their own narrow definition of vital interests. The most clear and unwavering issues here, to me, are the long-lasting impact of British Imperial rule, the duplicity of the Pakistani government, and the split character of the United States itself. One faction seeking peace and progress, represented by Senator Pressler, the second ultimately reacting only to what will provide short term cash. Somehow, they believe that greed and stupidity, if wrapped in the flag, will never have to pay a price. Looking at Senator Pressler's experience, you can see why they think that.As the Senator makes clear, taking effective action to save the planet, not just South Asia, requires getting the money out of American politics. The second need is to pursue a close alliance with India. However, the very stable genius who presides as President of The United States as I write this is clearly not interested in either. He is bound for East Asia to sit down with another terrorist state, North Korea. Better to grandstand from a position of total determined ignorance with the second terrorist state, North Korea, than try to take effective action (Pakistan is the first, for the limited purposes of this review). but effective action would at least require the mind-set that Pressler demonstrates, even if different tactics are applicable today.This is definitely a five star book. I am reading ti twice.Clyde Lindsay, AB Cum Laude, MBA, JD, Harvard University

I think this is probably the most openly and directly I have ever read any author blame Pakistan for being a failed and a terrorist state. Mr. Pressler leaves no stone unturned in chronologically explaining the difficulties he faced while stopping Pakistan systematically build their nuclear arsenal with the help of the American administration and of course, the Chinese. The book is written quite passionately about his childhood experiences which helped him in office as he grew in stature. Make no mistake when I write about the directness of the book. It isn't a biased account of Pakistan being the bad country and India being the good one. However the writer has dissected the facts from his time as a senator and given a logical explanation of what went wrong in the Sub-continent as far as nuclear proliferation is concerned.

Great analysis, honesty in the narrative and clarity of thought. Go for it, you won’t repent.