US Senate passes Indo-US Nuclear Deal

[OhioChick]

Source: Economic Times/India

2 Oct, 2008, 0614 hrs IST, PTI

WASHINGTON: The United States Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a legislation on the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, paving the way for its
operationalisation, four days after the House of Representatives gave its nod for it.

The Berman Bill H R 7081, named after Howard Berman, a Democrat strongly opposed to the deal on non-proliferation grounds and who converted only a couple of days back, was adopted with 86 voting for and 13 against.

The Senate also rejected the killer amendments introduced by Democratic Senators Byron Dorgan and Jeff Bingaman to ensure that the US nuclear exports to India do not help boost New Delhi's nuclear weapons programme.

With the 100-member Senate approving the Bill, the Indo-US civil nuclear deal is now ready for signing between the two countries. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was slated to arrive in New Delhi on October 2, has reportedly rescheduled her visit and is expected on Saturday.


Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/US_Senate_passes_In...

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Those mangoes should be on their way...

[endthewar]

1. A bad deal we rushed into to keep Russia from signing a deal with India

That's my short take on this.

[tpsbmam]

2. Senate Approves Indian Nuclear Deal

Source: NY Times

The United States opened a new chapter of cooperation with India on Wednesday night as Congress gave final approval to a breakthrough agreement permitting civilian nuclear trade between the two countries for the first time in three decades.

The Senate ratified the deal 86 to 13 a week after the House passed it, handing a rare foreign policy victory to President Bush in the twilight of his administration and culminating a three-year debate that raised alarms about a new arms race and nearly toppled the government of India.

The agreement, in the view of its authors, will redefine relations between two countries often at odds during the cold war and build up India as a friendly counterweight to a rising China. But critics complain that it effectively scraps longstanding policies designed to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and that it could encourage nations like Pakistan, Iran and North Korea to accelerate their own programs outside international legal structures.

Under the terms of the deal, the United States will now be able to sell nuclear fuel, technology and reactors to India for peaceful energy use despite the fact that New Delhi tested bombs in 1974 and 1998 and never signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. In exchange, India agreed to open up 14 civilian nuclear facilities to international inspection, but would continue to shield eight military reactors from outside scrutiny.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/washington/02webnuke....

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Roll call can be found here: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2008-662

[Smart Guy 4 Freedom]

3. OH Boy do we get more Mango's for this deal???