ID :
13660
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 10:55
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http://m.oananews.org//node/13660
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India does its bit, now Congress' turn to approve deal: Daily
Sridhar Krishnaswami Washington, July 24 (PTI) As the U.P.A. government won the crucial trust vote, a leading daily here today said the American Congress must find time to say "yes" to the nuclear deal as the US stands to lose economically if India turns toother countries for nuclear fuel and technology.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken a "bold risk" to salvage the pact and now it is the turn of theCongress, the Washington Post said in an editorial.
"Tuesday the gamble paid off, as Mr Singh's government survived.... Now, the question is whether the pact can survivethe American political process," the paper said.
It said there is not much time for under the law Congress must be in session for 30 continuous days to consider the deal and before the clock begins to tick there would have to beapprovals from the I.A.E.A. and the Nuclear Supplier's Group.
"... And because of the long August recess, there may not be more than 30 'legislative days' left before Congress adjourns on September 26," the Post said in the editorial titled "India's Outstretched Hand: New Delhi does its part tosalvage a nuclear pact, now it's Congress's turn".
"The deal raises many legitimate questions. But, on balance, it is in the United States' interest, and Congress should find the time to say yes -- in a lame-duck sessionafter the November election, if necessary," it said.
The daily said if Congress rejects the deal, the likeliest outcome is that India, freshly approved as a customer for technology and fuel, will "simply buy its planned 25,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity from France or Russia." The media comment takes note of the fact that the United States' relations with India has transcended the sanctions phase that came for not only refusing to sign the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty but also exploding a "device" in 1974.
Currently, the logic of the Bush administration is that the benefits of a "strategic partnership" with India outweigh the risks of waiving the old rules and also the fact that unlike Pakistan, India has not been in the business of leakingnuclear materials and know-how, the daily noted.
"...Perhaps the fact that India is a democracy that shares not only values but interests -- checking China, fighting Islamist terrorism -- with the United States matters "It's a bet worth making, especially since the agreement creates more international supervision of India's nuclear fuelcycle than there would be without it," The Post said.
It said what is also being pointed out, as some experts and lawmakers have, is that pushing through with the civilian nuclear deal bring with it risk as well in that it weakens the US threat to cut off uranium if India conducts another nuclear test; New Delhi's ties with Tehran are worrisome as also India's "stubborn" habit of siding with the non-aligned worldagainst the interests of the US.
"... if Congress rejects the deal, the likeliest outcome -- in addition to much ill-will in New Delhi -- is that India, freshly approved as a customer for technology and fuel by the I.A.E.A. and the Suppliers Group, will simply buy its planned25,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity from France or Russia.
After much delay, Mr. Singh has done his part; now it's Congress' turn," The Post said. PTI SK
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken a "bold risk" to salvage the pact and now it is the turn of theCongress, the Washington Post said in an editorial.
"Tuesday the gamble paid off, as Mr Singh's government survived.... Now, the question is whether the pact can survivethe American political process," the paper said.
It said there is not much time for under the law Congress must be in session for 30 continuous days to consider the deal and before the clock begins to tick there would have to beapprovals from the I.A.E.A. and the Nuclear Supplier's Group.
"... And because of the long August recess, there may not be more than 30 'legislative days' left before Congress adjourns on September 26," the Post said in the editorial titled "India's Outstretched Hand: New Delhi does its part tosalvage a nuclear pact, now it's Congress's turn".
"The deal raises many legitimate questions. But, on balance, it is in the United States' interest, and Congress should find the time to say yes -- in a lame-duck sessionafter the November election, if necessary," it said.
The daily said if Congress rejects the deal, the likeliest outcome is that India, freshly approved as a customer for technology and fuel, will "simply buy its planned 25,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity from France or Russia." The media comment takes note of the fact that the United States' relations with India has transcended the sanctions phase that came for not only refusing to sign the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty but also exploding a "device" in 1974.
Currently, the logic of the Bush administration is that the benefits of a "strategic partnership" with India outweigh the risks of waiving the old rules and also the fact that unlike Pakistan, India has not been in the business of leakingnuclear materials and know-how, the daily noted.
"...Perhaps the fact that India is a democracy that shares not only values but interests -- checking China, fighting Islamist terrorism -- with the United States matters "It's a bet worth making, especially since the agreement creates more international supervision of India's nuclear fuelcycle than there would be without it," The Post said.
It said what is also being pointed out, as some experts and lawmakers have, is that pushing through with the civilian nuclear deal bring with it risk as well in that it weakens the US threat to cut off uranium if India conducts another nuclear test; New Delhi's ties with Tehran are worrisome as also India's "stubborn" habit of siding with the non-aligned worldagainst the interests of the US.
"... if Congress rejects the deal, the likeliest outcome -- in addition to much ill-will in New Delhi -- is that India, freshly approved as a customer for technology and fuel by the I.A.E.A. and the Suppliers Group, will simply buy its planned25,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity from France or Russia.
After much delay, Mr. Singh has done his part; now it's Congress' turn," The Post said. PTI SK
