U.S.-India Nuke Deal Moves Forward, "Undermines" Nonproliferation
(Images and commentary on the 2002 Hundu-Muslim violence Gujarat can be found at IndianMuslims.in.)
India moved a step closer to clinching its nuke deal with the U.S. AFP reports that, under pressure from the Bush administration, IAEA quickly approved India's nuke plant inspection plan in record time— despite criticism that the wording of the document could allow India to prevent certain plants from being inspected. In addition, India will not be required to ratify the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty— India is one of only four nations that hasn't).
Said AP:
The U.S. and British governments don't see it that way. A British government representative said the agreement represented "significant contribution to energy and climate security, as well developmental and economic objectives for India and the international community." A White House spokesman said, "will welcome India into the non-proliferation mainstream and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in an environmentally friendly way.""The IAEA board of governors approved the safeguards agreement by consensus despite criticism that ambiguous wording in the deal could end up limiting international oversight of India's reactors, undermine the international nonproliferation regime and possibly help supply its arms programs with fissile material."
A country that refuses to sign the NPT (along with only North Korea, Israel, and Pakistan) has joined the non-proliferation mainstream? Next you'll be telling me that the Iraq War is making us safer...
Imagine if parents made a deal with their teen-age son or daughter: the parents could walk into the bedroom after they knocked and check three of the five drawers in the dresser - but the other two were off limits. Why does the kid need two private drawers?
This is weapons proliferation plane and simple, sure to fuel an arms race in south and east Asia.
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