Mixed Signals

18 December 2006



Bush Signs US-India Nuclear Bill

He may not want Iran to have a “nukyoo-lur” power plant, nor is he happy about North Korea’s A-Bomb test a while back. Yet, George “LBJ” Bush is thrilled to pieces about a nuclear pact with India. He got to sign enabling legislation and as the ink dries, the US is preparing to ship fissionable material to India. At least, his inconsistency here is in pursuit of an achievable policy end.

The deal isn’t entirely done. According to the BBC “India and the US have to agree terms for the lucrative trade deal by which the US sells India nuclear technology and fuel -- the US Congress has to ratify the deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency has to approve a separate nuclear inspection programme. The Nuclear Suppliers Group, an assembly of nations that exports nuclear material, has to give its approval.” However, given the profits involved, the Democrats in Congress won’t cross the White House here; why not be bipartisan when one can make money for donors in the process? The IAEA will sanction any inspection deal it can get, and the NSG will go along because there’s always a quid waiting for its pro quo somewhere in business.

However, when all of that goes through, the US will be able to keep an eye on India’s civilian nuclear program. The military nuke stuff will be out of bounds, but if the US can monitor civilian use, it is more difficult to divert isotopes to military purposes. As Mr. Bush said, the deal “will strengthen the strategic relationship between America and India and deliver valuable benefits to both nations.” India could become a key ally in the war against Fascislam, given that it has 1 billion people, most of whom are Hindus whom the enemy views as worse than Christians.

However, there is opposition to the deal in India. Opposition leader LK Advani said the deal made India “a client state of the United States.” He noted that, “the primary objective is to cap, roll back and ultimately eliminate [India’s] nuclear weapons capability.” He is right, but only to the extent that the US feels a need to roll it back. If Pakistan should fall out of the anti-bin Laden alliance through coup d’etat or election (please, no laughing – they could have an election there some day that the Army lets stand), then a nuclear India makes a good counterweight, much like Britain and France do in Europe.

India has The Bomb and there’s no putting that genie back in the bottle. An accommodation is good policy. However, this deal makes the North Korean and Iranian confrontations less intellectually pure. Still, “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.” And for once, not by George “LBJ” Bush.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.


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