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Key Senator Backs U.S.-India Nuclear Deal
The Associated Press
Friday, June 16, 2006; 12:33 PM
WASHINGTON -- An influential U.S. senator said Friday the United States should move quickly to approve a nuclear agreement with India that he described as "the most important strategic diplomatic initiative undertaken" by President George W. Bush.
Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said a congressional rejection of the agreement or an open-ended delay risks wasting an opportunity "to expand beyond Cold War alliance structures to include dynamic nations with whom our alliances are converging."
It was the strongest statement of support for the agreement by Lugar, who has been one of Congress' leading advocates of nuclear nonproliferation.
He described the agreement as a departure "from the crisis management mentality" that has dominated U.S. diplomacy in recent years. Lugar's comments came in remarks prepared for delivery to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
The nuclear agreement was signed in March by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but now must be cleared by the U.S. Congress, which needs to change laws that prohibit export of nuclear fuel and technology to countries that have not submitted to full inspections.
Some U.S lawmakers have expressed concerns that the deal could undermine the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty and help foster the spread of nuclear weapons. India has never signed the treaty and thus has not been subject to inspections.
The State Department says the agreement would bring international inspections and safeguards to 14 nuclear reactors India has designated as civilian; India's eight military facilities would remain off-limits.
In return, the United States would agree to ship nuclear technology and fuel to India. The accord does not include Pakistan, India's nuclear-armed neighbor and rival, which has also refused to sign the NPT.
Critics, including former Sen. Sam Nunn, an arms specialist who has worked closely with Lugar, have raised concerns the deal could promote a regional arms race with China and Pakistan and make it more difficult for the United States to win support for sanctions against such countries as Iran and North Korea.
The Associated Press
Friday, June 16, 2006; 12:33 PM
WASHINGTON -- An influential U.S. senator said Friday the United States should move quickly to approve a nuclear agreement with India that he described as "the most important strategic diplomatic initiative undertaken" by President George W. Bush.
Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said a congressional rejection of the agreement or an open-ended delay risks wasting an opportunity "to expand beyond Cold War alliance structures to include dynamic nations with whom our alliances are converging."
It was the strongest statement of support for the agreement by Lugar, who has been one of Congress' leading advocates of nuclear nonproliferation.
He described the agreement as a departure "from the crisis management mentality" that has dominated U.S. diplomacy in recent years. Lugar's comments came in remarks prepared for delivery to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
The nuclear agreement was signed in March by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but now must be cleared by the U.S. Congress, which needs to change laws that prohibit export of nuclear fuel and technology to countries that have not submitted to full inspections.
Some U.S lawmakers have expressed concerns that the deal could undermine the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty and help foster the spread of nuclear weapons. India has never signed the treaty and thus has not been subject to inspections.
The State Department says the agreement would bring international inspections and safeguards to 14 nuclear reactors India has designated as civilian; India's eight military facilities would remain off-limits.
In return, the United States would agree to ship nuclear technology and fuel to India. The accord does not include Pakistan, India's nuclear-armed neighbor and rival, which has also refused to sign the NPT.
Critics, including former Sen. Sam Nunn, an arms specialist who has worked closely with Lugar, have raised concerns the deal could promote a regional arms race with China and Pakistan and make it more difficult for the United States to win support for sanctions against such countries as Iran and North Korea.
must be very frustating !!
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