Loose Cannon, Off The Ramparts

Well-informed sources in Washington expressed barely hidden relief at Natwar Singh's exit given his tendency towards indiscretion. One said he was seen as an "unguided missile", while another dubbed him "a bomb waiting to go off". In their opinion, the former external affairs minister was unable to keep quiet about sensitive subjects such as the relationship with the United States. Visions of the upa manifesto, which was seen as "hardline, anti-US", loomed up on their mental screens as they read about the outgoing minister's many indiscreet comments. One diplomat said he sounded "incoherent and disoriented" and showed the lengths he was ready to go to for political survival.

"Since Manmohan is the architect of the new relationship with the US and is now acting foreign minister, things should go pretty smoothly from now on," one former US official said. Another insider, close to senior state department officials, said that "Natwar's departure won't affect anything. This game is now controlled by the PM himself."

US officials are also aware that Manmohan Singh's ambassador in Washington is committed to pushing Indo-US ties forward and is a "true believer". Ronen Sen is straightforward about where he wants Indo-US relations to go and how—up and up and superfast. He is maniacal in pushing and spreading his message and with the PM in charge of foreign policy, it should be a fearsome twosome. Some in Washington attribute India's IAEA vote on Iran "almost solely" to Sen's gamble, calculations and ability to convince New Delhi.