Posted on 03/02/2006 3:07:08 PM PST by flixxx
NEW DELHI (AP) - Reversing decades of U.S. policy, President Bush ushered India into the world's exclusive nuclear club Thursday with a landmark agreement to share nuclear reactors, fuel and expertise with this energy-starved nation in return for its acceptance of international safeguards.
Eight months in the making, the accord would end India's long isolation as a nuclear maverick that defied world appeals and developed nuclear weapons. India agreed to separate its tightly entwined nuclear industry - declaring 14 reactors as commercial facilities and eight as military - and to open the civilian side to international inspections for the first time.
The agreement must be approved by Congress, and Bush acknowledged that might be difficult because India still refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Do they have jackets?
Hopefully not a warm-up for Iran.
Ed Markey?
This guy, ashamedly, is my Rep. and any time he speaks out against something, it simply validates what a good idea it is.
He is an unabashed liberal who is owned by the most corrupt unions in the country.
Abandon nuclear weapons, China tells India
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1588632/posts
Interesting timing. I believe that strengthening Democratic India's nuclear capability is important, being neighbors to China and Pakistan, but how can you technically argue against Iran if India isn't willing to sign onto non-proliferation itself? This almost appears to be an admission of Iranian capability, and lowering the importance of non-proliferation treaties, neither of which are good.
I liked what the President had to say about this deal today. He said that the more Nuclear reactors in India, the more fossil fuels available to Americans.
We can't build any new Nukes here, so let's outsource them to India! Brilliant!
Besides, Iran has signed the NPT. IT is treaty-bound to not develop nukes. The treaty was signed by Iran itself.
India is not. India objected to the NPT right from day one, because it limits the number of nuclear powers to the five UN SC permanent members, China included.
WHy can't we build new nukes here ?
Construction of three new ones has begun in the past two months.
It is ingenious!!
"P!$$ off!" India tells China (or should, at any rate).
I really do not see that there is a direct relation between Iran and India. Vastly different societies and interaction with world affairs.
I think the President's stance makes complete sense and he has defended his position well.
I think India ushered itself into the Nuclear club.
India should say,
"In the matter of nuclear arms, we shall be more than pleased to follow your example China. If you wish us to disarm, lead the way."
Well, it's a fait accompli anyway. I'm glad that so far India and Pakistan have managed to not to blow up the subcontinent.
All I'm saying with regard to Iran is, hopefully the President won't be welcoming them into the Club too.
Sure, but India being awarded for bucking the system just as Iran is proposing to do now. And why isn't India willing to sign the treaty, if they have no plans to proliferate? That should be a minimum requirement for our assistance.
India and Bush could have won the day by using this opportunity to set an example, and having India sign the non proliferation treaty, and apologize for not signing it sooner. But this just puts our whole formal policy process in question, surprise anouncements like this that contradict our public policy.
This is great news!
Good news today between this pact with India and the passage of the Patriot Act.
They have jackets, but no flag. :-)
Loosen your tie and take a gander at the bigger picture.
They've agreed to full IAEA inspections of their nuclear power facilities. The head of the IAEA thinks this is a major step forward. India already has the bomb, has had for quite awile and they've been responsible with it.
Introduction: As of October 31, 2005, there are 104 commercial nuclear generating units that are fully licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to operate in the United States. Of these 104 reactors, 69 are categorized a pressurized water reactors (PWRs) totaling 65,100 net megawatts (electric) and 35 units are boiling water reactors (BWR) totaling 32,300 net megawatts (electric). Although the United States has the most nuclear capacity of any nation, no new commercial reactor has come on line since May 1996. The current Administration has been supportive of nuclear expansion, emphasizing its importance in maintaining a diverse energy supply. As of October 31, 2005, however, no U.S. nuclear company has yet applied for a new construction permit.The last reactor to come on line in the United States was the Watt’s Bar reactor in Tennessee, owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. It began commercial service in May 1996. Nevertheless, US commercial nuclear capacity has increased in recent years through a combination of license extensions and uprating (upgrading) of existing reactors
Of all the mainland nations of Asia, there's none I'd rather see increasing their nuclear capability than India. However, I don't generally like the news of spreading nukes, especially in that part of the world. While this may be an overall good move for that region, it seriously weakens any traction Bush has for blocking Iran's access to nuclear technology, and seems to be an admission the deal between Russia and Iran is complete and expected to be effective.
India has agreed to sign and let the IAEA inspect their civilian nuke facilities, just not their military nuke facilities. Good news!
Great, I would have just preferred to see the process more formalized considering the recent sensitivity of the subject. Bush should have set the bar, and then allowed India to exceed it, but this just further blurs the lines of acceptability, which is the goal of the proliferators. Tens of thousands protested Bush in the streets today, let's hope none of them get their hands on our technology.
ping!
Thakns for the ping....appreciate it.
BTW, did you see the thread about David Gregory's seriously-high performance on the Imus show his morning? I can send you a link if you missed it. Quite funny (and pathetic considering the perp).
"Thakns for the ping....appreciate it."
sure, anytime :)
"BTW, did you see the thread about David Gregory's seriously-high performance on the Imus show his morning? I can send you a link if you missed it. Quite funny (and pathetic considering the perp)."
no, I didnt see it, what happened?
Duke has one and there are two others more recent someplace else. The DOE report is not up to date.
Nuclear Weapon - don't leave your country without one.
Here's one: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588447/posts
This one here has the video: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588681/posts
Chck out the video; I think the guy was high on some really good north indian hashish.
I believe it was high octane, not necessarily high performance...
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
"I think the guy was high on some really good north indian hashish."
LOL :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.