India - US Nuclear Deal

In a sign of increasingly close relations between India and the US, the two countries recently signed a nuclear deal that would enable US companies to cooperate with India's civilian nuclear program. In return, India designates 65% of its reactors as civilian and agrees to have the IAEA inspect these facilities.

The deal has come under vicious attack from leading left-wing newspapers like New York Times was well as by right wing commentators like Pat Buchanan. Such bi-partisan attacks make Bush's courage in making the deal during a weak time for his Presidency even more impressive.

Now, finally the deal is getting some traction, and positive opinions. A recent column by Robert Kagan of the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace argues that non-proliferation concerns should not come in the way of the US Congress approving the deal.

As an Outlook India article points out, watching the deal being made is like watching a hurdles race. The next hurdle is the Congress, where the deal seems to stand a good chance of getting through, once the administration makes it clear that this is a one time exemption specifially for India, and shall not be replicated for any other country. However, there is still a chance of amendments/scuppering of the deal in the face of an assault from the Non-Proliferation lobby.

In an interesting side note, I got a chance to catch up with some old friends from College, who live in India and some who live in the US. The indication seems to be that Indian community which till recently split its loyalty between Democrats and Republicans in a reflection of the larger divide in the general American community, is now turning strongly Republican after Bush's visit to India. By this yardstick, Bush's visit to India must definitely rate as more successful than Clintons.

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