Indian Influence - Thomas Friedman's latest dispatch explains how India's tech community, dependent on its economic ties to the US and Europe, helped cool nuclear tensions with Pakistan. If they did play an important part, then perhaps Robert Kaplan's pessimism isn't entirely warranted. One facet of globalization in our millenial age is the bonding of wealthy technologically advanced elites across national boundaries. (Or within them -- hey, Ben!) On the other hand, Kaplan would point out that the software parks of Bangalore -- and other outposts like them -- are tiny islands amidst a sea of Third World poverty and burgeoning discontent. Whose world view will prevail? Stay tuned.