Nuclear Nonproliferation
On 12/18/06, Bush reversed a 30-year policy by signing into law, one last bill passed by the outgoing Congress, which allows the sharing of civilian nuclear technology with India. He signed the bill, despite India's refusal to sign the Nuclear nonproliferation Treaty.
The U.S.-India nuclear deal allows India to receive access to civilian nuclear energy and technology. Bush claims: “This cooperation will help the people of India produce more of their energy from clean, safe nuclear power. And that, in turn, will help their economy grow.”
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts states: “It's a terrible signal for the Bush administration to be sending to Iran, to North Korea, to Pakistan, and to other countries, that it's willing to give India a pass on nuclear nonproliferation issues, while expecting those other countries to abide by them.”
Under the terms of the agreement, India will allow international inspectors to visit 14 civilian nuclear plants. However, nearly a dozen other reactors are not subject to inspection. The deal is strictly for nuclear energy, not nuclear weapons, but critics say it will still allow India to increase production of nuclear bombs.
Joseph Cirincione, Senior Vice President for the Center for American Progress insists. “India has a limited indigenous supply of uranium. But the U.S. is now going to sell them uranium that they could use for power production, freeing up their own resources to make bombs. We estimate that, currently, India makes about six to ten bombs worth of uranium a year. They could triple that, to over 20 to 30 bombs per year.”
Another point of contention is that India has close ties to Iran. The nuclear cooperation agreement places few restrictions on India's exports of civilian nuclear technology. Arms dealers and “defense” contractors are among the biggest lobbyists pushing for this deal. They're hoping to cash in, not just selling nuclear technology to India, but also hoping that this will make India more receptive to buying U.S. warplanes and defense goods. In many ways arms dealers are more despicable than drug dealers.
The U.S.-India nuclear deal allows India to receive access to civilian nuclear energy and technology. Bush claims: “This cooperation will help the people of India produce more of their energy from clean, safe nuclear power. And that, in turn, will help their economy grow.”
Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts states: “It's a terrible signal for the Bush administration to be sending to Iran, to North Korea, to Pakistan, and to other countries, that it's willing to give India a pass on nuclear nonproliferation issues, while expecting those other countries to abide by them.”
Under the terms of the agreement, India will allow international inspectors to visit 14 civilian nuclear plants. However, nearly a dozen other reactors are not subject to inspection. The deal is strictly for nuclear energy, not nuclear weapons, but critics say it will still allow India to increase production of nuclear bombs.
Joseph Cirincione, Senior Vice President for the Center for American Progress insists. “India has a limited indigenous supply of uranium. But the U.S. is now going to sell them uranium that they could use for power production, freeing up their own resources to make bombs. We estimate that, currently, India makes about six to ten bombs worth of uranium a year. They could triple that, to over 20 to 30 bombs per year.”
Another point of contention is that India has close ties to Iran. The nuclear cooperation agreement places few restrictions on India's exports of civilian nuclear technology. Arms dealers and “defense” contractors are among the biggest lobbyists pushing for this deal. They're hoping to cash in, not just selling nuclear technology to India, but also hoping that this will make India more receptive to buying U.S. warplanes and defense goods. In many ways arms dealers are more despicable than drug dealers.
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