Nuke deal a key achievement of Bush presidency: White House

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 2 (PTI) The historic Indo-US civil
nuclear deal, which "reshaped the relationship between" the
two countries, is one of the major achievements of the
eight-year-long Bush Administration, the White House has said.

With less than three weeks for incumbent George W Bush
to hand over the presidency to Barack Obama, White House has
published two documents highlighting the major achievements of
Bush's eight years (2001 to 2009) of rule as the President of
the US.

As expected, the US-led global war against terrorism,
in particular in Iraq and Afghanistan, tops the list of
achievement of the Bush Presidency.

The two documents does mention the Indo-US civilian
nuclear deal and the improved relationship between India and
the US as one of the key achievements of George W Bush.

"The United States completed a historic civil nuclear
agreement with India, reshaping the relationship between the
world's two largest democracies," says the document
"Highlights of Accomplishments and Results".

The second document titled "100 Things Americans May
Not Know About the Bush Administration Record", reiterates
that the Bush Administration signed an historic civil nuclear
agreement with India.

The deal which was initiated in July 2005 by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and Bush was signed on October 10 by
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice.

"(Bush Administration) Completed the US-India Civil
Nuclear Cooperation Initiative and worked to expand
cooperation with India on a broad range of issues including
defense, science, technology, and the promotion of democracy,"
said the 41-page document released by White House.

The two publications also gives the Bush
Administration the credit for restoration of democracy in
Pakistan.

"(He) called for and supported parliamentary elections
in Pakistan that reflected the will of the people and ended
more than eight years of military rule," said "100 Things
Americans May Not Know About the Bush Administration Record."

Observing that the Bush Administration helped restore
democracy and civilian rule in Pakistan, the document
"Highlights of Accomplishments and Results" said: "In
Pakistan, America supported elections that reflected the will
of the people." PTI LKJ
RKM
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