I just heaved a sigh of relief as I sifted through the news. India finally made it clear that it wouldn't send troops to Iraq. What I can't figure out is, why did it take so damn long?

What happened in Iraq was unjust. I'm not too sure most Americans like to watch body bags coming home because their boys are fighting for a cause that just doesn't exist. By that same token, why should the Indians die? Hell no, we aren't here to fight anybody's battle.

As far as the discussion on foreign policy and Indian ties with the US go, balls I say. No amount of pragmatism can wash blood off our hands. And if it's a pragmatic argument we're looking for to not deploy troops, I.K. Gujaral, the former Indian Prime Minister has one. It was published last month in The Hindu.