Obama's views on all things Indian

Democrat Barack ObamaBarack Obama, who was elected as the 44th President of the United States, is known to be an admirer of world's largest democracy as well as father of the nation Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi: Following are excerpts of some of his quotations:
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On present Indo-US ties: "With India, America has one of its most important relationships in an uncertain world...both countries, India and America, are working to protect their people and values of 21st century threats while at the same time respecting the rule of law and cultural pluralism."
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On Indo-US ties under an Obama Administration: "I will move forward to build a close strategic partnership between the US and India when I am president of the United States."
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On shared Indo-US democratic values: "The world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy are natural partners, sharing important interests and fundamental democratic values."
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On terrorism, India and the US: "Both countries have been victims of catastrophic terrorist attacks and we have a shared interest in succeeding in the fight against al-Qaeda and its operational and ideological affiliates."
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On Mahatma Gandhi: "In my life, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things. Gandhi's significance is universal. Countless people around the world have been touched by his spirit and example."

On the Indo-US nuclear deal: "I voted for the US-India nuclear agreement because India is a strong democracy and a natural strategic partner for the US in the 21st century."
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On Kashmir: "We should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis so that they (Pakistan) can stay focussed not on India, but on the situation with those militants."
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On Chandrayaan-I: "With India's launch of its first unmanned lunar spacecraft following closely on the heels of China's first spacewalk, we are reminded just how urgently the United States must revitalise its space programme if we are to remain the undisputed leader in space, science, and technology."

Source: Rediff