A much more complete opinion paper about Kerry and the nuclear deal

[Mass]

It is certainly one person opinion, and this person disagree with Kerry on the issue, but if you can forget that for a minute, you will see how some facts can be left out.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060113/asp/opinion/story_5712553.asp

The senator’s contention was couched in the vocabulary of practical and pragmatic politics. The Indo-US nuclear deal, he argued, is a principle worth supporting but there are concerns of people who see non-proliferation as an article of faith. These concerns, he feels, must be met more than halfway by India being accommodating on the details of the understanding. Only then will the agreement pass muster in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
...

Obviously, the person who wrote this article opposes Kerry because this person thinks India should have nuclear weapons, but it brings a new coloration to what may have been said in this press conference and not reported by the Indian media in general: the fact that Kerry was very much concerned about proliferation (which will surprise nobody here, of course).

[karynnj]

1. Thanks for posting the article

The writer sounds like he can write for India's version of Fox. The difference in adjectives for Kerry vs Bush is really startling. (They're at least nicer than our right wing - they think Kerry is innocent and naive - which at least is better than FR.)

It's interesting to read between the lines - clearly Kerry is more concerned with proliferation than Bush - though both said it was the number 1 issue facing the world in the debates.

I wonder how "innocent" he will feel he was when Bush turns on India to reward Pakistan.

[MH1]

2. In the debates...

Didn't Kerry answer the question first? (about what was the most important issue)

I remember feeling strongly that *'s response was just "me too."

[karynnj]

9. yep, and someone copied from the smarter one in the room

Although he didn't just say me too - but he reapeated pieces of what Kerry said. (I was being sarcastic about Bush - In the Senate when the administartion was cutting or not increasing the funding for the Nunn/Lugur bill which buys up nuclear material - Lugar had a grin on his face when he sited that both the President and "our colleaque, John Kerry" agreed ...)

[wisteria]

3. Does this article writer seem to be a bit full of himself?

It just amazed me how much he suggests he knows about The Bush's administrations position and the Liberals/ Kerry's position.I wonder if Fox sought him out to write this piece. It just screams Fox News with all the negative Liberal talk.

[Mass]

4. I think you are missing the point.

This guy is not writing for an American media. He is writing for an Indian audience and he is pushing his point. He does not deserve the "Fox" label. His point is that India should have nuclear energy. The rest is not important in this context.

The reason why I posted that was the fact that it shows clearly that Kerry was more reserved that has been written concerning the nuclear deal and that clearly he is concerned about proliferation and clearly, Bush is not.

[wisteria]

5. Well, I do understand the man is not writing for the American press,

I would think that is obvious. I also understand his position and don't necessarily disagree with it. I can even grasp why Kerry has his concerns about this deal. And, I did appreciate your presentation of the glaring differences on the misinterpretation of Kerry's opinions appearing in the other Indian publications vs. this published opinion piece.
I was making light of the fact the writer sounded very much like a Fox News reporter trying to sell his point of view by criticizing the Liberals. Sorry if I offended the writer and you, that was never my intent. Is the author of this piece a friend of yours?

[ProSense]

6. One thing to remember here is this is an article

not a press release, which would be a statement issued by Kerry. Such statements on the issues are posted on his Senate site. No doubt he issued a statement (length unkown) containing more details, and this journalist selected quotes from it to use in this article.

[kerrygoddess]

7. He held a press conference today

If there were press releases issued, there have not been sent out here. One the pieces I posted here had his complete itinerary. There were 3 or 4 scheduled press avails or conferences on the itinerary I did not post on the blog or here.


Tomorrow he meets with "S.K. Jain, Chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, who will brief the Senator on the prospects for nuclear energy in India and the commercial perspectives arising out of the July 18 framework. This is the state-owned company which runs India’s civil nuclear power plants."

He will also "tour Datamatics, an Indian outsourcing company that services a wide range of U.S. firms.

Kerry will meet with Deepak Parekh, Chairman of HDFC, and Indian CEOs to discuss the investment climate in India and the future of U.S./India commercial and economic ties. He will also meet with members of the Foreign Investors’ Chambers of Commerce and Industry."

Saturday he will be in Pakistan and there will be a press avail then when he tours the USAID distribution:

Saturday, January 14 – Pakistan

Kerry will visit Balakot, the city that was destroyed by an earthquake in October, and visit the Mehra Tent Camp, where he will tour the “Save the Children” distribution of uniforms and backpacks sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

** NOTE: Kerry’s tour of the USAID distribution is open to the press.

He will also meet with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

[MH1]

11. Also this from BBC - except for headline, it's pretty informative

Kerry 'backs' India nuclear deal
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4605246.stm

(note the quoe marks.)

Kerry 'backs' India nuclear deal

India says it wants nuclear power to meet its energy needs
US Senator John Kerry has said he backs a controversial nuclear accord with India "in principle".
The landmark 2005 deal to grant India access to civilian nuclear technology must be ratified by the US Congress.

Critics of the accord, which hinges on India separating its military and civilian nuclear facilities, fear it could harm non-proliferation efforts.

Mr Kerry is a key player in the US Congress and observers say India needs his support to get the deal passed.

(snip)

"It's a positive gain for India, the US and the international community," he said. But he said the fine print of the deal would have to be studied before Congress voted on the issue. "What Congress will or won't do is going to depend on what the four corners of the agreement finally say when it is arrived at."

Washington and Delhi have held several rounds of talks on the issue and a senior US State Department official, Nicholas Burns, is due to visit India later this month to hold more discussions.

Mr Kerry said that the nuclear deal would have large implications internationally. Apart from being approved by Congress, he said it would need:

* to be approved by the 44-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group
* changes to be made to the Atomic Energy Advisory Board
* the adoption of the Fissile Technology Control Regime

(snip)

There is also a link in the sidebar of this article, pointing to an interesting article from Japan Times, "Deal harms Indian interests" - 09 Jan 2006:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/track/news/ext/-/http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?z451224341&z=50237904

That one doesn't mention Kerry but offers an alternative view of the proposed agreement.

[whometense]

8. Link here from VOA News

http://www.voanews.com/english/Senator-John-Kerry-Cautiously-Supports-India-US-Nuclear-Deal.cfm

U.S. Senator John Kerry is wrapping up a three-day visit to India, where he voiced cautious support for a controversial nuclear energy deal now under discussion by Washington and New Delhi. Kerry said the deal to share U.S. civilian nuclear technology with India could be an important step for nuclear non-proliferation.



<...>

"In principle, I support this," Senator Kerry said. "In principle, I think there is a great gain, a positive gain, for India, for the United States, for the global community, with respect to oversight that doesn't today exist. And it is better to take three-quarters of the program and get it under there, providing you're not undermining the larger, strategic goal of the NPT itself."...

[karynnj]

10. Nice picture - the red backgound in great for Kerry

Thanks for posting this - this is a far more limited endorsement and it seems he is trying very hard o balance 2 goals.