[NukeNet] Action Needed Now Re House Backed USA/India Nuclear Deal

[Bill Smirnow]

  Mothersalert: http://www.mothersalert.org
http://www.mothersalert.org/moreinfo.html

   Dear All,
                   For all of you in the USA
and/or with contacts in the USA please call, fax,
write both your Senators to oppose the India/USA
nuclear deal described below which the US House
passed last night [Wednesday night, July 26,
2006]. Please pass this along to all interested
parties and e-mail lists. The vote will probably
take place next week.

  The congressional switchboard can be reached at:
202-224-3121 and 1-877-762-8762.
  US Senate: http://www.senate.gov

   -Bill Smirnow




http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-nuclear-india.html
 India Cautiously Welcomes US Nuclear Deal
Approval
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By REUTERS
Published: July 27, 2006
Filed at 7:50 a.m. ET

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NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India welcomed on Thursday
the U.S. House of Representatives' initial
approval of a landmark civilian nuclear
cooperation deal but said the accord had a long
way to go before it was fully sealed.

The U.S. chamber approved the controversial deal
with an overwhelming 359-68 vote on Wednesday.
Lawmakers rejected amendments that aimed to curb
India's nuclear weapons program.

``The passage of the bill ... by a large margin of
bipartisan votes in the U.S. House of
Representatives demonstrates the broad political
consensus in the U.S. in the promotion of
Indo-U.S. relations,'' Indian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

``We must, nevertheless, await the finalized text
of the legislation which will emerge after a
Senate vote and the reconciliation of the two
bills, before we are able to comment on its
contents,'' he said.

Under the deal, India will get access to U.S.
nuclear fuel and equipment -- barred so far as New
Delhi has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation
treaty and conducted nuclear tests -- to meet its
soaring energy needs.

However, it also needs to be approved by the U.S.
Senate and a vote is not expected until September.
The House and Senate would vote again after
negotiations on the technical details of the
agreement are completed.

India must also complete negotiations with the
International Atomic Energy Agency on a system of
inspections for its civilian nuclear sites and the
45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group must change its
regulations to allow nuclear transfers to India.

The deal has been strongly criticized by the
non-proliferation lobby in the United States.
Experts say the agreement would allow India to
produce nuclear weapons easily because it frees
its domestic atomic supplies for military use.

SENATE HURDLE

It has also been attacked in India with supporters
of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, as
well as the opposition, accusing New Delhi of
submitting to tough conditions imposed by
Washington and compromising its nuclear security.

Singh said the U.S. legislative process was still
on and New Delhi remained concerned about some
aspects of the deal which are seen as trying to
impose curbs on India's nuclear program.

``All I can say is if the United States'
legislative process leads to an end product which
is not consistent with what we have committed,
that would be the determining factor of what we
will do next,'' Singh told parliament.

``It is for the United States government to ensure
that ... what is contemplated is within the
parameters of the July 18 statement,'' he said,
referring to a 2005 pact with President George W.
Bush when the deal was first agreed in principle.

Analysts said Wednesday's vote in support of the
deal reflected the strong efforts by the U.S.
administration and New Delhi in convincing
Congressmen about the pact's benefits.

``At a political level, the importance of India
has been acknowledged and we can see it in this
vote,'' said C. Raja Mohan, strategic affairs
editor at the Indian Express newspaper.

``The vote is an extraordinary demonstration of
huge bipartisan political support for the deal in
the United States.''

The next approval process, though, could be
tougher.

``The bill still has to be passed by the Senate
and that is where the challenge will be as that is
where all the non-proliferation advocates are,''
said R.R. Subramanian, an independent nuclear
expert.