Bush faces fire for deal with India on nuclear energy
ALAN FREEMAN
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President George W. Bush returned home from a swing through South Asia yesterday after signing an "historic" deal on nuclear energy with India. But the agreement faces tough opposition from Congress, which is worried that it undermines international rules on atomic proliferation.
Mr. Bush's five-day Asian trip included stops in Afghanistan and Pakistan to back both nations' role in the fight against terrorism, but the highlight was the signing of an agreement with India aimed at lifting the 30-year-old U.S. restrictions on civilian nuclear technology co-operation with India.
Mr. Bush vowed to seek approval from Congress to allow the sharing of nuclear know-how with India, whose booming economy is desperate for new power sources. India has agreed to place most of its civilian reactors under control of the International Atomic Energy Agency, but the deal would permit India to maintain two reactors to supply its nuclear weapons program.
Some in Congress have criticized the arrangement because India has never signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The Bush administration has to convince them to change U.S. law, which currently forbids co-operation with countries that have not signed the non-proliferation pact and have tested nuclear weapons.
"With one simple move, the President has blown a hole in the nuclear rules that the entire world has been playing by," said Ed Markey, senior Democrat on the House of Representatives energy and commerce committee, "and broken his own word to assure that we will not ship nuclear technology to India without the proper safeguards."
While India celebrated Mr. Bush's agreement and U.S. recognition of its burgeoning economy, Pakistan was given encouragement for its role in tackling al-Qaeda, but nothing as expansive as the Indian nuclear deal.
"I explained that Pakistan and India are different countries with different needs and different histories," Mr. Bush said during his closing news conference on Saturday.
The Pakistani press grumbled that India, Pakistan's historic rival, had obviously done better from the Bush visit.
"The difference between the two relationships springs from the fact that India interests the U.S., but Pakistan worries it," Pakistan's The Times noted. "Therein lies the qualitative difference."
Added The News, also of Pakistan: "For all the services that Pakistan has so far provided to the Americans in their global war against terrorism, all that President [Pervez] Musharraf received from his distinguished guest was a lecture on the need for democracy and refusal for any direct role in the settlement of the Kashmir dispute."
Pakistan's key role in the war against terror was highlighted yesterday once again when Pakistani officials reported killing 46 pro-Taliban militants in clashes in the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan. Five Pakistani soldiers were also reported killed.
The violence started on Saturday morning when an estimated 100 tribal militants attacked a military post in Mir Ali, the BBC reported. The region has been a haven for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
Mr. Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington yesterday after the long overnight flight from Pakistan and immediately turned to two of his favourite Sunday pursuits. He attended a 7:45 a.m. church service followed by a spin on his mountain bike.
On board the plane, which made a refuelling stop in Ireland, Mr. Bush had a 15-minute telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the two leaders discussed Mr. Putin's recent meeting with representatives of Palestine's Hamas movement as well as Russia's role in nuclear talks with Iran.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060306.BUSH06/TPStory/TPInternational/
So it seems that India that has not signed the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and is always has tensions with Pakistan can have a nuclear deal with Bush. And with Iran they are preparing as Bolton said to do defensive tactics.
Bush and his cronies are full of double standards, not only with this but with democracy and everything else.
ALAN FREEMAN
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President George W. Bush returned home from a swing through South Asia yesterday after signing an "historic" deal on nuclear energy with India. But the agreement faces tough opposition from Congress, which is worried that it undermines international rules on atomic proliferation.
Mr. Bush's five-day Asian trip included stops in Afghanistan and Pakistan to back both nations' role in the fight against terrorism, but the highlight was the signing of an agreement with India aimed at lifting the 30-year-old U.S. restrictions on civilian nuclear technology co-operation with India.
Mr. Bush vowed to seek approval from Congress to allow the sharing of nuclear know-how with India, whose booming economy is desperate for new power sources. India has agreed to place most of its civilian reactors under control of the International Atomic Energy Agency, but the deal would permit India to maintain two reactors to supply its nuclear weapons program.
Some in Congress have criticized the arrangement because India has never signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The Bush administration has to convince them to change U.S. law, which currently forbids co-operation with countries that have not signed the non-proliferation pact and have tested nuclear weapons.
"With one simple move, the President has blown a hole in the nuclear rules that the entire world has been playing by," said Ed Markey, senior Democrat on the House of Representatives energy and commerce committee, "and broken his own word to assure that we will not ship nuclear technology to India without the proper safeguards."
While India celebrated Mr. Bush's agreement and U.S. recognition of its burgeoning economy, Pakistan was given encouragement for its role in tackling al-Qaeda, but nothing as expansive as the Indian nuclear deal.
"I explained that Pakistan and India are different countries with different needs and different histories," Mr. Bush said during his closing news conference on Saturday.
The Pakistani press grumbled that India, Pakistan's historic rival, had obviously done better from the Bush visit.
"The difference between the two relationships springs from the fact that India interests the U.S., but Pakistan worries it," Pakistan's The Times noted. "Therein lies the qualitative difference."
Added The News, also of Pakistan: "For all the services that Pakistan has so far provided to the Americans in their global war against terrorism, all that President [Pervez] Musharraf received from his distinguished guest was a lecture on the need for democracy and refusal for any direct role in the settlement of the Kashmir dispute."
Pakistan's key role in the war against terror was highlighted yesterday once again when Pakistani officials reported killing 46 pro-Taliban militants in clashes in the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan. Five Pakistani soldiers were also reported killed.
The violence started on Saturday morning when an estimated 100 tribal militants attacked a military post in Mir Ali, the BBC reported. The region has been a haven for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
Mr. Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington yesterday after the long overnight flight from Pakistan and immediately turned to two of his favourite Sunday pursuits. He attended a 7:45 a.m. church service followed by a spin on his mountain bike.
On board the plane, which made a refuelling stop in Ireland, Mr. Bush had a 15-minute telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the two leaders discussed Mr. Putin's recent meeting with representatives of Palestine's Hamas movement as well as Russia's role in nuclear talks with Iran.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060306.BUSH06/TPStory/TPInternational/
So it seems that India that has not signed the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and is always has tensions with Pakistan can have a nuclear deal with Bush. And with Iran they are preparing as Bolton said to do defensive tactics.
Bush and his cronies are full of double standards, not only with this but with democracy and everything else.