IAF amazes George Bush

BY A CORRESPONDENT
March 2006

US President George Bush, it seems, had a good word or two about the Indian Air Force (IAF). During his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early this month, Bush praised IAF and said that he was dazzled by the skills and professional quality of the personnel. He said that the American counterparts were taken by admiration by the pure professionalism of their Indian counterparts.

The two world leaders held long discussions which were followed by delegation-level talks. During the talks, he spoke about the emerging defence relationship and the "defence framework" agreed to by the two countries under which their armed forces have had a series of joint exercises.

While speaking about the joint exercises between the two countries, he said, "I have been told our chaps were dazzled by the skills and professional quality of Indian pilots and our admiration for India has gone up through these experiences."

The tsunami also found a mention during the talk between the leaders. They made a reference about the tsunami as "partners in responding to the tsunami". He also praised the work done by the Indian Air Force during the hurricane Katrina in US. Bush said, "I was struck, and so were the American people, that the Indian Air Force delivered Hurricane Katrina aid to an air force base in Little Rock, Arkansas. And for that, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you."

India and US had held joint air exercises, the latest being the one held at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. There were reports that the Indian pilots outperformed their US counterparts, even though the former was using the ageing jets like the MiG-21s.