Want a sense of just how little the world respects America these days? Forget Russia. Forget Syria. Forget Iran.
Look at India.
There, an NYPD cop is being detained, almost certainly in revenge for the arrest here of an Indian diplomat in December. On Thursday, a Delhi judge refused to dismiss the dubious charges against Officer Manny Encarnacion.
Instead, he put off a decision until at least July.
It raises a troubling question: If Washington can’t get New Delhi to let an American police officer return home, why should anyone expect US diplomacy to triumph in places such as Ukraine or the Middle East?
Encarnacion was nabbed on March 10 after security personnel at an Indian airport found three bullets in his jacket pocket. He’d left them there absent-mindedly after visiting an NYPD firing range.
Encarnacion posed no threat. He had no gun, and he’s an officer of the law. Unfortunately for him, Indian pols were fuming because their diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, had been arrested here and strip-searched on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her maid. When Encarnacion was stopped, an Indian cop told him, “You’re the guys who like to strip-search our diplomats.”
Thursday’s delay by the judge means he and his wife will be have to remain in India for at least a few months, in an outrageous act of retaliation against America.
And remember, this is India. Not some outlaw regime like North Korea (which is holding US missionary Kenneth Bae). Or Iran (which just sentenced ex-Marine Amir Hekmati to 10 years in prison and holds other US hostages as well). Or Cuba (where Alan Gross remains a prisoner).
Secretary of State John Kerry has been jetting around the world’s hotspots to get the Palestinians and Israelis to sign a peace deal, the Russians to stop invading their neighbors and the Iranians to give up their nukes. All to little effect.
Maybe he should spend a more time on something that might enhance US credibility: bringing Officer Encarnacion home.