India, US seal nuclear cooperation pact: TV

Reuters ^ | Mar 2, 2006 1:56 AM ET | Reuters

[indcons]

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India and the United States have sealed a controversial nuclear cooperation pact, the centerpiece of President George W. Bush's first visit to the world's largest democracy, Indian news channels said on Thursday.

[indcons]

I'll contact Admin Mod as soon as I find more information. If true, this is FANTASTIC news; it heralds a new era of US-India cooperation and friendship. Pres. Bush's visit to India has been compared to Pres. Nixon's ground-breaking visit to China. Looks like these commentators were right after all.

[College Repub]

Bush has been doing a press conference in India for the last 10 minutes...Indian media are asking if he'll do anything to bring India into the UN security council and about our cooperation with Pakistan since they view them as the center of terror in the world.....

[Howlin]

This report is true; President Bush just confirmed this deal in his live press conference right now on the cables.

[Chgogal]

Hope this is true! :)

[DollyCali]

good new ping!

[zarf]

Another BOLD initiative for the Prez.

After 8 years of watching Bill waste his tenure coasting on the dotcom wave while preening in front of a mirror, Bush (for all his faults) has been a welcome dose of Presidential activism.

[indianrightwinger]

Watching Fox News coverage of news conference.

It is a DONE deal. But, Congress and IAEA have to approve.

[indcons]

Thanks for the confirmation....appreciate it. This news is great!!

Pres. Bush must be the MOST popular leader in India at this moment.....Of course, that's not really surprising given that he enjoyed huge popularity in Idnia even before the visit. His visit is being seen by most Indians (except moonbat communists and muslims) as a reason for people there to celebrate (at least that's what my friends in India tell me).

[indcons]

Thanks for the ping....good news indeed. Now, we just need to hope that Congress approves the deal. Some moonbats are already making noises about it but the deal might go through.

[bybybill]

Looks like Bush is going to keep going with Roves plan to destroy the world. Once they have killed us all, it will be easier for Halliburton and President Fox to take over.(Rove is a closet Muslim)

[Howlin]

ROFLMAO....................

MJ, don't miss this post!

[MJY1288]

Just read it and I'm waiting to see if it is sarcasm or grounds for a nuking

[indcons]

Thanks....FReepers Howlin, indianrightwinger, and others have provided the confirmation. The next step is approval by Congress and more opposition from the moonbats (who could never get Clinton to actually accomplish anything w.r.t. US-India ties).

India's national security adviser told Charlie Rose that in the event of a successful deal, ties between the US and India will reach "stratospheric" heights. I understand that Sec. Rice has been playing a MAJOR role behind the scenes along with the NSA chief and their Indian counterparts. I am on cloud nine right now.....the long-awaited friendship between the USA (the world's oldest and greatest democracy) and India (the world's largest and most diverse democracy) is finally being realized.

May God bless America and India - partners in peace and progress.

[Chgogal]

Can't imagine Congress throwing road blocks against this. Don't know about IAEA though. Thanks for the update.

[Chgogal]

What an excellent way to start the day here in the Midwest. Thanks for the update!

[indcons]

U.S. President George W. Bush, center, meets with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, right, as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks on at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Thursday, March 2, 2006.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

This is a huge deal in terms of strategic alliances as far as dealing with China over Taiwan is concerned. We are proud to have India as a friend and we will do great things together.

[bybybill]

Do both, laugh and then nuke `em

[Howlin]

Amen!

[MJY1288]

:-)

Sorry for doubting you!

[indcons]

[MJY1288]

Great News tonight, really great news

[Just A Nobody]

May God bless America and India - partners in peace and progress.

Yes!

[DollyCali]

Yes, I am glad I am up on one of my rather rare late night marathons of sorts.

[DollyCali]

BIG CHUCKLE

[parisa]

This is amazing, historical, GREAT NEWS! Good for India, good for US, trouble for mollas of Iran.

[indcons]

Some useful background information: Hearing on U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative
(R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on November 2, 2005)

[MJY1288]

Drudge still has the Headline that Bush was Warned about Katrina... What a load of crap... It was Bush who declared the entire area a disaster area 2 days before Katrina came ashore so that the local officials could initiate their disaster plans that they failed to implement. But some how Katrina is Bush's fault!!! We live in an age where our MSM is an organization the Soviet Union dreamed they could have had during the Cold War.

Mark my words, a Backlash is coming for these traitorous bastards in the MSM sooner than they think

[DollyCali]

those with more political savvy than me.. Before this agreement/visit, were we NOT closer with the Pakistani govt than the Indian? I am not the mental giant politically at FR but am trying to learn!

[MJY1288]

Well I'm off to bed, The alarm rings in 3 hours and my arse will be dragging in the AM

[indcons]

Howdy, Justanobody....good to see you again.

This agreement is historic mainly because it succeeded against the Cold War mentalities of some bureaucrats and the leftist press in both countries.

I'll be very interested in seeing how the treachrous MSM covers this historical event. Will there be ANY positive coverage by the MSM? Or will we see stories on "Katrina/Bush Fault" instead? (Unfortunately, I think it'll be the second scenario).

[DollyCali]

oh dear.. pay day for you also!!!

*wink*

[iPod Shuffle]

MSM doesn't care about this historic agreement. Not just because it is a clear win for Bush (and India and America), but because the story isn't "sexy"

[iPod Shuffle]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=1677864

U.S., India Reach Agreement on Nuke Deal
U.S., India Reach Agreement on Landmark Civil Nuclear Deal During Bush Visit
By DEB RIECHMANN
The Associated Press

NEW DELHI, India - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush announced Thursday their nations have reached agreement on a landmark nuclear deal, a coup for Bush's first visit to India.

"We have reached an understanding on the implementation of our agreement on civil nuclear cooperation," Singh said during a joint appearance by the two leaders. "I have conveyed to the president that India has finalized the identification of civilian facilities to which we had committed."

Under the accord, the United States would share American nuclear know-how and fuel with India to help power its fast-growing economy, even though India won't sign the international nonproliferation treaty. It would represent a major shift in policy for the United States, which imposed temporary sanctions on India in 1998 after it conducted nuclear tests.

"We concluded an historic agreement today on nuclear power," Bush said. "It's not an easy job for the prime minister to achieve this agreement. I understand. It's not easy for the American president to achieve this agreement."

Bush, mindful of opposition among some in the U.S. Congress to such a deal, called it "a necessary agreement."

"It's one that will help both our peoples," he said. "Again, I applaud you for your courage and your leadership."

[indcons]

The prior ties between the USA and India were governed by Cold War necessities. Things have changed a lot in the last 5+ years in which Pres. Bush has been in power. PM Manmohan Singh (the Indian Prime Minister) credited the upswing in US-India ties to Pres. Bush.

An excellent source for an analysis of the new horizons in the US-India partnership is this transcript from a hearing on "U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative." Here are a few interesting excerpts from this hearing:

"President Bush’s desire to transform relations with India is based on his conviction that, as he has said, "This century will see democratic India’s arrival as a force in the world." We believe it is in our national interest to develop a strong, forward-looking relationship with India as the political and economic focus of the global system shifts toward Asia. We know that many in Congress embrace this view. And the time is right. The Cold War, when India was the ultimate non-aligned nation and the United States the ultimate aligned nation, is long past. It is time to shift our U.S.-India relationship to a new, strategic partnership for the decades ahead.

India is a rising global power with a rapidly growing economy. Within the first quarter of this century, it is likely to be included among the world’s five largest economies. It will soon be the world’s most populous nation, and it has a demographic distribution that bequeaths it a huge, skilled and youthful workforce. India’s military forces will continue to be large, capable and increasingly sophisticated. Just like our own, the Indian military remains strongly committed to the principle of civilian control. Above all else, we know what kind of country India will be decades from now. Like the United States, India will thrive as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual democracy, characterized by individual freedom, rule of law and a constitutional government that owes its power to free and fair elections.
[...]
In addition to aligning ourselves with a country that shares our democratic values and commitment to a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society, developing civil nuclear cooperation with India will bring concrete benefits to the U.S. and to the international community more broadly. Under Secretary Joseph will address this initiative in detail, but let me outline here some of the key reasons why we believe this initiative makes excellent sense:

Security Benefits: All the steps that India pledged on July 18 strengthen the international nonproliferation regime, and all align with our efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. India’s September vote in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that found Iran in noncompliance with its nuclear obligations reflects India’s coming of age as a responsible state in the global nonproliferation mainstream.

Environmental Benefits: Nuclear energy is one of the few proven sources of energy that does not emit greenhouse gases, and thus can help India modernize in an environmentally friendly manner that does not damage our common atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

Commercial Benefits: As a result of our involvement in India’s civil nuclear industry, U.S. companies will be able to enter India’s lucrative and growing energy market, potentially providing jobs for thousands of Americans.

Energy Benefits: India’s expertise in basic science and applied engineering will add significant resources and substantial talent in the development of fusion as a cheap energy source if India can participate in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program and help make the next generation of reactors safer, more efficient and more proliferation-resistant as a member of the Generation-IV Forum (GIF)."

The full-text of this hearing is available in post #27 on this thread (the hyperlink leads to State Dept.'s web site).

[Howlin]

I just saw the rerun start for Hardball; they had a TEAMSTER saying "We just cannot sell our ports to foreign countries."

[indcons]

Thanks a lot for a more complete story. Pinging AM in case the initial breaking news story needs to be modified.

[iPod Shuffle]

Singh has turned out to be quite a leader in his own right. Many feared he'd be little more than Sonia Gandi's (sic) puppet.

[DollyCali]

thank you!!!!

[newzjunkey]

I can't get too excited by this news but I'll accept it as good.

What I'd like to know is this: when are we going to get (modern) nuclear power?

[Just A Nobody]

Or will we see stories on "Katrina/Bush Fault" instead?

I had to LOL at this comment, even though I do not find it funny...because, after I posted to you I walked back in the room where the TV was on and guess what was on. Yep, one of the most historical events in my lifetime had just ended, but the ENEMEDIA was back to the "Katrina/Bush Fault" story line. I, of course, turned it off immediately!

Good night indcons...it has been a good day! Sleep well.

[indcons]

"Many feared he'd be little more than Sonia Gandi's (sic) puppet."

Very well said...to be honest, I was one of those who doubted his capabilities. Of course, the fact that Singh belongs to a left-of-center party clouded my opinions about him too.

I just downloaded a recent interview of Singh with Charlie Rose (it was on PBS last week)...in the interview, Singh was emphatic that the course of economic liberalization in India was irreversible. He also indicated that the young people of India are the ones who are demanding foreign products/services, open markets, and reduced govt. regulations. Though India has quite a distance to go before it becomes a second-world country, I think the brightest of India's planners and politicians realize the perils of socialism (finally!!).

[indcons]

Good night to you too, Justanobody. It has been a great day indeed.

From his neck of the woods in West Texas, I wish Pres. Bush Godspeed and success on his trip to Pakistan and his return home.

[indcons]

"What I'd like to know is this: when are we going to get (modern) nuclear power?"

Isn't the President doing quite a bit on that front with his energy initiative? I understand that the radical envirowackos and the moonbats are crying wolf over the encouragement of nuclear power.

IMO, the moonbats' irrational reaction is dangerous; the American dependence on foreign oil (another talking point of the Green moonbats) cannot be reduced without encouraging nuclear power.

[Carry_Okie]

Hopefully this won't push Pakistan over the edge.

[indcons]

Sec. Rice announced in public that the US cannot treat India and Pakistan on the same level w.r.t. nuclear cooperation. I am quite sure that the Pakis were well aware of a potential deal much before it became public.

[jonrick46]

There is a cause for celebration. India is a Democracy and recognizes President Bush as the leader of another friendly Democracy. There is great opportunity with the relationship that is growing since GW took office. Also, India is a more reliable trading partner which, unlike China, is not so apt to turn profits into nuclear subs with nuclear warhead missile launchers.

[Southack]

Outstanding!

May our alliance flourish for the forseeable future.

[Gengis Khan]

The Free Republic India and Indo-US Issues Historic India, US nuclear cooperation Ping!

 

(Freepmail me if you want on/off. )

[Gengis Khan]

Hi there!
Bumping!