Posted on 03/01/2006 2:06:19 PM PST by indcons
US President George W Bush finally arrived in India and brought with him plenty of hopes of finalising the nuclear deal.
He is accompanied by First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur were personally present to welcome the guests.
Along with them, Indian Ambassador to US Ronen Sen, US Ambassador to India David C Mulford, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, National Security Adviser MK Narayanan and Science Minister Kapil Sibal were also present.
The two leaders had an animated conversation after which Bush was led to a convoy that took him to Hotel Maurya Sheraton. The President did not make any arrival statement.
Bush's official engagements will begin from Thursday after a ceremonial welcome by President Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
As interlocutors from both sides made last minute efforts to seal the landmark nuclear pact reached last July, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and is understood to have discussed the broad parameters of a possible deal that could be concluded during the visit.
Earlier, at a surprise stopover at Kabul, Bush said that US negotiators were trying to iron out differences with their Indian interlocutors from aboard the Air Force One to wrap up an agreement for implementation of the landmark nuclear deal.
"Our people are speaking to India from the plane about trying to come to a civilian power agreement," he said at a press conference in Kabul.
"It is a difficult issue for the Indian Government. It is a difficult issue for the American Government. So, we continue to dialogue and work and hopefully we can reach an agreement. If not, we will continue to work on that until we do," he said.
He said "it is in the interest of the US and in the interest of the world that India develops a nuclear power industry".
Contending that the US relationship with India was "broader than our discussions about energy", he said "ours is a strategic relationship. It is a relationship that's got strong ties because of economics and our military, and our desire to help democracies such as Afghanistan."
The President's National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, also part of the Presidential delegation, brushed aside criticism that the civilian nuclear arrangement with India has been so designed so as to go around the non-proliferation treaty and frameworks as some critics have argued.
"It is just the opposite. This is actually a way to bring India within the Non-Proliferation framework. It will be adopting the kind of Non-Proliferation protections that we do. It's to bring India on the same page as we are, so they can be a global partner.
Is it just my imagination or does Bush's tie...and this guy's towel match?
Yea, looks like that guy's tie and Dr.Singh's turban match!
Gee, wouldn't it be great if he could out-source popularity?
Towel, eh? Do you know anything about Dr. Singh or were you merely practicing your slurs against a friend of the US?
You just gotta like India...a great ally to have in that part of the world.
Yea, they may be better than the Chinese or Russians....let us wait and see...only time will tell...
Sorry, a bit of late afternoon humor...if u wish to deem me a red neck that would be fair.
I have a lot of respect for India but remember, being a conservative means u can take a joke...and not think it is a personal attack...aiiiighhht.
Well, he is certainly more popular in India than he is in the US. One reason - India does not have the rabid MSM as its media. Though the traditional India medi takes some of its cues from the East Coast establishment, most independent Indian commentators are aware of the MSM and its shenanigans.
What was surprising was that a greater percentage of Indians support the liberation of Iraq than Americans. Additionally, more Indians feel that the world is better off without Saddam!
"Is it just my imagination or does Bush's tie...and this guy's towel match?"
Yep, Curry blue
Hmmm the Pres must have checked with the Delhi guy...Pres tie and the ..ahhh nevermind.
No offense taken, FRiend....nothing wrong with some afternoon humor.
It is just that Sikhs are often mistaken for Muslims in the US and suffer the consequences...this despite the fact that ALL Sikhs loathe muslims. I just didn't want anybody to get an idea that Dr. Singh, a good friend of Pres. Bush and the USA, is a muslim of some kind.
Cheers,
indcons
LOL In two pictures it looks like the tie and hat match.
That's what I call a close partnership.
It's on the minds of a lot of people.
What caused a dive in the polls are the polls themselves.
Bush would be re elected in a heartbeat.
BTW, does anyone know anyone that has ever been asked to vote on these funny polls?
"Gee, wouldn't it be great if he could out-source popularity?"
The amazing thing is that Bush is popular in India despite Indian media which is, contrary to another poster, rabidly anti-West and especially anti-US. The US can make a small mistake and it will be all over the press. Hindus can get killed in Russia, and no one will know about it. Indians get killed, abused, looted in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc and the media will mention it in small letters on page 12.
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