- #1
Art
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/02/bush.india.visit/Pact sends inspectors, U.S. expertise to India's nuclear programs
Friday, March 3, 2006; Posted: 11:29 a.m. EST (16:29 GMT)
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- The United States will send nuclear fuel and expertise to India under the terms of a pact reached on the last day of President Bush's visit to New Delhi.
Federal law prohibits the United States from sharing its nuclear technology with nations that have not signed the non-proliferation treaty or have tested weapons yet Bush has agreed a deal whereby the US will provide India with nuclear fuel and technical expertise despite India being a non-signatory and has tested nuclear weapons as recently as 1998.
In return it is hard to see what the gain is for the US
India will continue their military nuclear programs with only civilian reactors being subject to IAEA overview. Thus their current stock of eight military reactors including 2 fast breeders will continue to remain exempt from international scrutiny with India holding the right to designate any other reactors military (and thus secret) as they see fit.
This deal while it seems to be in total contradiction to the Bush administration's stance towards Iran, where they cite concern about nuclear proliferation as their justification for trying to prevent Iran gaining the ability to refine their own nuclear fuel, is in keeping with the ongoing double standards adopted in the world today as Germany and Japan amongst others have both been allowed to develop and continue with domestic enrichment programs despite their history of aggression.
What is the liklihood of congress scuppering this deal?
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