Indo-US N-deal in US interest: Post

Washington, Sept 12 (PTI) The Indo-US Civil Nuclear deal is in "America's interest" and the failure of the Congress to ratify the landmark pact would make US nuclear suppliers the "victims", a media report has said.

Maintaining that the historic agreement is now "almost" a done deal, The Washington Post reminded US lawmakers that should they fail to get the legislation through by the adjournment date of September 26, it is the American business houses that stand to be short changed.

"The agreement has already been amply debated and
discussed, and on balance, it is in America's interest," The
Post said in its lead editorial "Yes for an Answer".

The U.S. nuclear cooperation with India ceased after
the latter's first nuclear test in 1974.

"But in today's changed global situation, the Bush
administration has reasonably calculated that the benefits
from a 'strategic partnership' with democratic, fast-growing
India outweigh the risks of ending a punitive posture," the
influential newspaper said.

It cautioned the if the Congress "backs out now", "the
only victims will be American nuclear suppliers, who would
have to stand aside while French and Russian companies expand
India's nuclear power system".

The Washington-based daily underlined that the nuclear
agreement enjoys the approval of the U.S. executive branch,
Indian government, the U.N. agency in charge of nuclear
safeguards and a 45-nation international organisation.

In the given circumstances, the report said, it would
be "strange indeed, if a Congress controlled by Democrats, who
usually favor diplomacy and multilateralism, were to scuttle
the deal now". However, The Post cautioned that "unless
Congress promptly passes a law permitting an expedited vote,
the India deal could be put off until the next administration,
and the next Congress, with all the uncertainty that entails".

In regard to the role of the long-time sceptic, the
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Howard Berman,
it makes the makes the point that while he is right in
insisting on a "searching enquiry" the hope is that he will
find a way before September 26.

On the issue of the kind of message this accord sends
to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, it makes a
distinction between India and other states like North Korea,
Iran or Pakistan.

"India, a democracy, is likely to behave more
responsibly, as is demonstrated by the fact that its nuclear
programme, unlike Pakistan's, has not been implicated in
proliferation," it said.

"And though the deal does not expressly require that
the United States cut off nuclear cooperation if India tests
another weapon, as the Hyde Act provides, it clearly permits
the United States to do so, and India knows that this is not
an idle threat," The Post maintains. PTI SK


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