Posted on 03/02/2006 4:23:21 AM PST by mylife
Bush, Manmohan create history, seal nuclear deal
Associated Press
New Delhi, March 2, 2006
US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced their countries had reached agreement on a landmark nuclear deal.
"We concluded an historic agreement today on nuclear power," Bush said during a joint press conference.
Under the accord, the United States would share American nuclear know-how and fuel with India to help power its fast-growing economy, even though India won't sign the international non-proliferation treaty.
It would represent a major shift in policy for the United States, which imposed temporary sanctions on India in 1998 after it conducted nuclear tests, and came after last minute haggling about how to separate India's tightly entwined civilian and nuclear programmes.
"We have reached an understanding on the implementation of our agreement on civil nuclear cooperation," Singh said. "I have conveyed to the President that India has finalised the identification of civilian facilities to which we had committed."
Negotiations on the deal went down to the wire, with details being hammered out even after Bush had arrived in New Delhi. "It's not an easy job for the Prime Minister to achieve this agreement," Bush said. "I understand. It's not easy for the American President to achieve this agreement."
Bush, mindful of opposition among some in the US Congress to such a deal, called it "a necessary agreement." "It's one that will help both our peoples," he said. "Again, I applaud you for your courage and your leadership."
According to sources, India has accepted opening up of civilian nuclear reactors to safeguards in perpetuity. Fourteen nuclear facilities have been designated as civilian and eight as military.
Fast breeder reactors will not be opened to international inspection and New Delhi will decide whether the future reactors will be civilian or military.
Bush not terrorised by blasts in Pak
Later in the week, Bush is heading to Pakistan where on Thursday two bombs ripped through the parking lot of the Marriott Hotel in Karachi, exploding windows in the nearby US consulate. Bush said the victims included at least one US citizen, a foreign service officer he did not identify by name.
The attack occurred hundreds of miles from the capital of Islamabad, where Bush's events were taking place, but underscored the need for the extraordinary security planned for his visit there. Bush said the attack would not deter him in his travels. "Terrorists and killers are not going to prevent me from going to Pakistan," he said.
Protests welcomed Bush in Delhi
In New Delhi, thousands of protesters, many of them carrying the red flags of India's leftist parties, marched through the city toward a fairground where they planned to rally to protest Bush's visit.
Dozens of politicians, mainly from leftist parties, stood on the steps of the Parliament building just a few blocks from where Bush was meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh — chanting "Bush go back!" and "Down with Bush!"
After the "no-deals" that were claimed by the Administration regarding the UAE in the past several days, maybe it is refreshing that they have now sailed into India and have made a "one-way accord" with them regarding what sounds like unbridaled nuclear proliferation and no concessions whatsoever to the "rest-of-the-world".
How refreshing!
Meantime, we got cop-killer Armando Garcia back from Mexico but with the agreement that this monster will not be executed by some sub-rosa agreement with the Mexican authorities.
And,if your counting our blessings, the unmade bed of Immigration remains unchanged.
Our cup overfloweth.
We need India in the coming "troubles" with Iran...
Aint a one way deal. The Indians already have nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons, nuclear technology of every description. We're not selling em anything they dont have. We're opening up a market for our nuclear industry. And giving them hopefully superior quality.
"Garcia...Martinez!....whatever.
Did I mention that this scumbag is an illegal alien that murdered that cop?
Take a moment to recognize how the press story has been so medicinally "laundered" for release to the general public.
Another "BRAVO SIERRA" moment from our administration.
Is it dark in there with your head in the sand?
Nuclear deal signed! Ping!
We needed Iraq in the past troubles with Iran.
("OUR pool of one billion unskilled and semi-skilled low-wage workers in a rapidly growing asian economy
is better than
YOUR pool of one billion unskilled and semi-skilled low-wage workers in a rapidly growing asian economy!")
"Is it dark in there with your head in the sand?"
Mac: Don't give up your day job if this is your idea of a comedy routine.
Answer: What in heaven's name are you referring to?
No reply really needed.
"Nuclear deal signed!"
Hey, I have no problem with that. :)
As I mentioned before, I have changed my opinion that the US should not move closer to India, and I now feel that America and India should be allies.
I still have fears India and China might ally, but now I have come to believe that this is not very likely, and that a US-India alliance would be a good thing :)
So, I'm happy that the deal was signed. After all, it seems like now only the Democrats are opposing it (and there was an editorial in the NY Times criticizing the deal, and if the NY Times is of an opinion, you can almost always assume they are wrong.)
As long as India remains friendly to the US I think the nuclear deal is a good thing. From what I've heard, I hope it passes Congress too.
Youre 100% right.
Youll get no argument from me
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