The Free Republic India and Indo-US Issues Ping.
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Posted on 01/06/2006 10:19:52 PM PST by Gengis Khan
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 6: Amid debate in the US over the July 18 nuclear deal with India, former Presidential candidate and high-profile US Democrat Senator John Kerry will make a brief visit to India next week as the Bush Administration prepares to approach Congress for an exemption to take the deal forward.
Kerry, edged out by Bush in a closely fought election last year, is slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 11. He is currently also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Considered an ardent advocate of tightening non-proliferation controls, a supportive view by Kerry will count in building a positive climate for passing the India-specific legislation that the Bush Administration plans to table soon. The proposed legislation, which will grant full exemption to India from US non-proliferation laws, needs to be passed by both chambers of the Congress.
While Kerry has always emphasised on strengthening the international non-proliferation regime, he has not openly opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal. To that extent, New Delhi will look to impress upon him the logic that the deal will actually strengthen multilateral efforts to realise long-term non-proliferation objectives.
Kerry is far from a learner on these issues. Back in December 1992, Kerry was among the first few to raise the finger of suspicion on the clandestine dealings linked with the Pakistani nuclear programme. He named A Q Khan in his report on the BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) affair and identified the matter as one that must be fully investigated in the future.
“BCCI provided $10 million in grants in the late 1980s to finance an officially ‘private’ science and technology institute named for Pakistani President Ishaq Khan, whose director, A. Qadir Khan, has been closely associated with Pakistan’s efforts to build a nuclear bomb. The institute is believed by some experts to be the headquarters for Pakistan’s efforts to build an Islamic bomb,’’ he had said then. South Block officials feel that Kerry’s understanding of the issue runs deep and that he has indicated in the past a greater role for India in curbing the clandestine spread of nuclear weapons.
India has already argued in the IAEA for a more detailed investigation into unraveling the A Q Khan network that, it feels, lies at the heart of addressing the Iran nuclear issue. This was also partly reflected in the last IAEA resolution in the matter.
Kerry’s visit comes during what has come to be known as the season for ‘‘Co-dels (Congressional delegations)’’ in Delhi. US Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, the third highest ranking official in Washington, leads a strong delegation of around 10 members, including the Indian-American Congressman Bobby Jindal, on January 13 for discussions with Indian officials. Another Congressional delegation will follow the week after.
Besides this, US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns too will be here in mid-January for talks on implementing the nuclear deal.
Huh?
Will I go to hell if I pray he asks for a hamburger?
Has the dude released his discharge paperwork yet? I seem to recall in some interview back in October...he "promised" that he would release the records soon.
Release some to a Globe reporter with some kind of confidentiality agreement. Why, do you want to pray he orders a double cheeseburger...with bacon? ; )
I just got real thirsty for some reason. LOL!
another wind surfing in the bay of bengal photo op.
make sure the valet packs plenty of pb&j sandwiches just in case lurchie gets hungry and starts ordering hamburgers all over the place.
I hope Kerry drinks the water.....
Could happen. Remember the campaign?
Wasn't Kerry whining during the election that the Indians were taking all our jobs thanks to President Bush? Sounds like he is consorting with the enemy to me.
Last time I checked, Hell was still in a state of thaw.
Hope the curry sears, sears what's left of Kerry's prostate.
The one with the toilet paper tail.
What an absolute joke!
The Indian Express hasn't figured out that Kerry doesn't have the key to the executive washroom, any executive washroom. Even TerAYa's dropped his name.
Amazing. The SAME John Kerry who said in the 1st Debate in Oct 2004 that he would sell Nuke fuel to the Iran's Mullahs if elected is billed as a Non Proliferation HAWK? This is so stupid it boarders on the insane.
This is ironic that the one posting this story about the Loser knows as John Kerry is called "Gengis Khan"
I guess in India where there are a Billion people, 3 MILLION is "edging out".
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