THANKS, W:

Gates calls for closer defense ties to India (The Associated Press, January 19, 2010)

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates appealed Tuesday for closer military cooperation between America and India to bring stability to South Asia.

In an opinion piece published in The Times of India ahead of his visit here, Gates said the two nations have been drawn together by their shared values and should push for even greater cooperation in confronting new security threats.

"We must seize these opportunities because the peace and security of South Asia is critical not just to this region, but also to the entire international community," he wrote.