US House set to vote on nuclear deal

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: NDTV

The US House of Representatives is set to vote on the crucial Indo-US nuclear deal today. The vote was postponed on Thursday.

The development comes even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met US President George Bush at the White House. During the meeting, Bush said America is working hard to get the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal passed as quickly as possible. He added that Washington wants the deal to satisfy New Delhi.

Singh responded saying that India hopes that the deal will be approved in a manner that satisfies both India and the US. He also underlined that the people of India deeply love President Bush.

"When 34-year-old restriction ends and history is written, Bush would find place in it. My historic meeting with Bush in 2005 transformed India's relations with US," said Manmohan Singh.


Read more: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080066810&ch=9/26/2008%206:35:00%20PM

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Iranians want their own nuclear deal for sure.

[Ian David]

1. H R 7061 on the US-India civilian nuclear agreement. Call and say VOTE NO! n/t

[cosmicone]

8. Why vote no?

India is a multicultural, multiethnic democracy like the US and a natural ally. The deal will lift millions of people out of poverty by providing power for industrial growth, provide energy for irrigation systems and reduce hunger.

It will also create thousands of well-paying US jobs.

It would be utterly antisocial to oppose this bill.

[Ian David]

9. Nothing against the Indian people. But this is pure insanity. n/t

[cosmicone]

11. Pure insanity?

Based on what? Just because you say so?

[Ian David]

14. For one thing, it violates international treaties. n/t

[ShockediSay]

15. And clearly benefits the lobbying US nuclear contractors {like GE}

It's the lobbyists, stupid.

[Ian David]

16. It's lucrative enough that someone appears to be paying people to spam blogs in favor of it. n/t

[ShockediSay]

22. I've noticed a couple of troll-like postings here lately nt

[cosmicone]

19. It doesn't violate a single treaty

Hello! The IAEA approved the deal and so did the 45 nations of the nuclear suppliers' group (NSG) unanimously. You just need to read up more instead of posting inaccuracies.

Anything that the US does to lift millions of people out of poverty and helps them get food while creating thousands of US jobs is a very progressive action. I don't agree with the chimp about anything else but this deal where he has excelled.

[bananas]

12. India is more interested in bombs than electricity

They could have signed the NPT decades ago and gotten fuel and technical assistance.
They didn't want to because they wanted to make bombs more than electricity.
The whole reason for this treaty was to allow India to make more bombs.
It is antisocial to support this bill.
Let them sign the NPT first.
This is going to accelerate the arms race between Pakistan and India.
It is insane.

[cosmicone]

20. India cannot sign the NPT

because China, the archenemy is not restricted from making bombs under the NPT. The NPT is inherently unfair and India has stated time and again that it would sign the NPT if all countries are on an equal footing. Currently, the NPT has double standards -- one standard for "nuclear weapons states" i.e. US, Russia, UK, France and China and a different standard for everyone else. Why should the second largest country in the world be deprived when France and UK are free to make bombs?

[cosmicone]

21. This cannot accelerate the arms race between

Pakistan and India. Pakistan doesn't get the same treaty and cannot ever catch up to India now without wrecking its economy.

Also, it is high time we stop equating India and Pakistan.

Pakistan is a tinpot, fundie, terrorist military dictatorship dependent on handouts from the US. India is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic democracy with the rule of law and with an economy growing at 9% per year with enterprise and capital formation.

India is also 6 times larger in population, 8 times larger in area and 83 times larger in GDP. Get real.

[ohio2007]

23. India buys Russian aircraft carrier

http://russiatoday.com/news/news/31011

It's a done deal for the largets democracy in the world

[Phred42]

2. INSANE

[BrightVictor]

3. I'm OK with this deal

It brings the US and India closer, which is something both countries need frankly. The deal isn't perfect, but the Council on Foreign Relations does a good job breaking down the argument...

http://www.cfr.org/publication/9663/

[AlphaCentauri]

4. Democracy at work: US-India Business Council aggressively lobbies for N-deal

With billions of dollars worth of contract at stake, the powerful United States industry is "pulling out all stops" including hiring lobbying firms and launching a media blitz to lobby for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal at the Capitol Hill, where it is pending now to be ratified by the US Congress.

The US-India Business Council (USIBC), which represents some 300 top US companies like GE, Boeing and Bechtel, doing business in India has started a vigorous campaign among the lawmakers to ensure the so-called 123 Agreement is ratified by the Congress before September 26, when it is scheduled to be adjourned.

A delay beyond this, experts feel, might jeopardy the deal itself and could end up hurting the business interest of US companies who are eying on the billions of dollars of contract which India could offer for building nuclear power plants across the country.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080065764

[BrightVictor]

5. I prefer US companies

and US/IAEA oversight of India's nuclear programs than French/Russian agreements.

[AlphaCentauri]

6. Where money is present there is a chance of corruption, I prefer a international treaty

[BrightVictor]

7. I don't disagree with that

A lot of countries have corruption problems. That shouldn't stop the US from seeking closer ties with India. India will not be signing the NPT any time soon, so I think this deal goes a long way to reward India for its "good" behavior and help solidify our relationship with India even further. India is going to be a very important ally in the next 20 years, more so than Germany or England I suppose.

[bananas]

13. The deal extremely limits IAEA oversight

IAEA oversight will only apply to some reactors.
IAEA will be prohibited from visiting many reactors.
The whole reason for this bill is to let India evade IAEA oversight.

[BrightVictor]

18. The IAEA Directior has endorsed this deal

saying is was "a pragmatic way to bring India into the nonproliferation community."

[merwin]

10. Funny, I thought that we were already pretty close with them.

Considering that most of our companies hire Indians for their call centers.

[indio55555]

17. I'm fine with it.

If we don't Russia and France are willing to sell.