09-10-2008, 09:10 AM
The latest from Washington
Quote
Time short for US-India nuclear deal
The Associated Press
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
WASHINGTON: A U.S.-Indian civil nuclear cooperation accord, one of President Bush's top foreign policy initiatives, may finally have run out of time this year despite a crucial international endorsement secured during the weekend.
With Congress expected to stop work for the year late this month, lawmakers would have to rush to push through the deal. Some in Congress, however, are vowing a careful review of U.S.-Indian nuclear negotiations. That could leave it in the hands of a new Congress and new president come January, and it is unclear whether the proposed agreement would remain a priority.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's spokesman said Monday that the State Department is working hard to get the deal approved, reaching out to the Democratic chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the House and Senate, Rep. Howard Berman and Sen. Joe Biden.
Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, has favored the accord, which would reverse three decades of U.S. policy by shipping atomic fuel to India in return for international inspections of India's civilian reactors. Berman, who supports nuclear cooperation, is cautioning the Bush administration that Congress will take seriously its duty to study the accord.
Congress must wait 30 working days after receiving the deal before it could be ratified. Lawmakers, who returned Monday from their August recess, are scheduled to leave in about three weeks to campaign for the presidential and congressional elections in November.
To overcome the dwindling time, the Bush administration needs a supportive lawmaker to introduce legislation that would set aside the 30-day requirement. Barring passage of such legislation, Congress does not appear to have enough days left to ratify the deal.
Berman said if the administration wants to speed congressional consideration, it must deal first with addressing problems some lawmakers have, such as what an Indian nuclear test would mean for the deal.
"The burden of proof is on the Bush administration," Berman said.
India has refused to sign nonproliferation agreements and has faced a nuclear trade ban since its first atomic test in 1974. But on Saturday, the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group of nations that supply nuclear material and technology agreed to lift the ban on civilian nuclear trade with India after contentious talks and some concessions to countries fearful it could set a dangerous precedent.
Berman said Congress will study carefully the decision by the nuclear suppliers group, "along with any agreements that were made behind the scenes to bring it about."
Last month, Berman warned that the Bush administration risks the collapse of the deal if it should fail to push the suppliers group to accept conditions that would punish India for testing nuclear weapons.
U.S. officials have said that selling peaceful nuclear technology to India would bring the country's atomic program under closer scrutiny. Critics say it would ruin global efforts to stop the spread of atomic weapons and boost India's nuclear arsenal.
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., a critic of the deal, said "no one should assume congressional approval will be automatic."
He said U.S.-Indian nuclear negotiations must not clash with the Hyde Act, a 2006 law that provisionally approved nuclear trade with India.
A new Congress could take up the deal in early January, before Bush leaves office at the end of that month. Both presidential contenders, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, have indicated support for the accord, but it is not clear that either would give it the same attention that Bush has.
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Quote
Time short for US-India nuclear deal
The Associated Press
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
WASHINGTON: A U.S.-Indian civil nuclear cooperation accord, one of President Bush's top foreign policy initiatives, may finally have run out of time this year despite a crucial international endorsement secured during the weekend.
With Congress expected to stop work for the year late this month, lawmakers would have to rush to push through the deal. Some in Congress, however, are vowing a careful review of U.S.-Indian nuclear negotiations. That could leave it in the hands of a new Congress and new president come January, and it is unclear whether the proposed agreement would remain a priority.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's spokesman said Monday that the State Department is working hard to get the deal approved, reaching out to the Democratic chairmen of the foreign affairs committees of the House and Senate, Rep. Howard Berman and Sen. Joe Biden.
Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, has favored the accord, which would reverse three decades of U.S. policy by shipping atomic fuel to India in return for international inspections of India's civilian reactors. Berman, who supports nuclear cooperation, is cautioning the Bush administration that Congress will take seriously its duty to study the accord.
Congress must wait 30 working days after receiving the deal before it could be ratified. Lawmakers, who returned Monday from their August recess, are scheduled to leave in about three weeks to campaign for the presidential and congressional elections in November.
To overcome the dwindling time, the Bush administration needs a supportive lawmaker to introduce legislation that would set aside the 30-day requirement. Barring passage of such legislation, Congress does not appear to have enough days left to ratify the deal.
Berman said if the administration wants to speed congressional consideration, it must deal first with addressing problems some lawmakers have, such as what an Indian nuclear test would mean for the deal.
"The burden of proof is on the Bush administration," Berman said.
India has refused to sign nonproliferation agreements and has faced a nuclear trade ban since its first atomic test in 1974. But on Saturday, the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group of nations that supply nuclear material and technology agreed to lift the ban on civilian nuclear trade with India after contentious talks and some concessions to countries fearful it could set a dangerous precedent.
Berman said Congress will study carefully the decision by the nuclear suppliers group, "along with any agreements that were made behind the scenes to bring it about."
Last month, Berman warned that the Bush administration risks the collapse of the deal if it should fail to push the suppliers group to accept conditions that would punish India for testing nuclear weapons.
U.S. officials have said that selling peaceful nuclear technology to India would bring the country's atomic program under closer scrutiny. Critics say it would ruin global efforts to stop the spread of atomic weapons and boost India's nuclear arsenal.
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., a critic of the deal, said "no one should assume congressional approval will be automatic."
He said U.S.-Indian nuclear negotiations must not clash with the Hyde Act, a 2006 law that provisionally approved nuclear trade with India.
A new Congress could take up the deal in early January, before Bush leaves office at the end of that month. Both presidential contenders, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, have indicated support for the accord, but it is not clear that either would give it the same attention that Bush has.
Unquote