[scandium]

Originally Posted by tycho102

Man, preventing proliferation is sooooooo 1949.

Indeed, and in fact the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has become little more than something else for your president to wipe his @ss with (along with Kyoto, the antiquated Geneva Conventions, your Constitution, and well you get the idea). Case in point:

March 2, 2006

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1352424.shtml

(CBS/AP) On his first trip to India, President Bush and his Indian counterpart agreed Thursday on a landmark nuclear energy agreement that deepens ties between the world's oldest and largest democracies.

Mr. Bush acknowledged it will be difficult to persuade Congress to support the agreement, in which the United States would share its nuclear know-how and fuel with India. But he said he's confident it will be approved so India can power its fast-growing economy without expanding world demand for oil.

Under the terms of the agreement, India will open 14 of its 22 nuclear reactors to international inspection, as well as all future reactors, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante. This deal does nothing to stop the growth of India's nuclear weapons program, but U.S. officials are betting that India's growing demand for electric power will mean a lot of nuclear reactors and billions of dollars in business for U.S. companies if Congress is willing to change the laws.

Critics in Congress say the White House is making an exception for India, which has refused to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

"Proliferation is certainly a concern and a part of our discussions, and we've got a good-faith gesture by the Indian government that I'll be able to take to the Congress," Mr. Bush said.

Yep, nothing like a handshake to guarantee that only good things can come of these 22 nuclear reactors in India - especially when India is even willing to allow 14 of them to be inspected; I mean its not like there's any instability in that part of the world for us to worry about or anything. Oh and the best part:

July 29, 2006

http://www.boston.com/news/world/art..._of_duplicity/

WASHINGTON -- Massachusetts congressman Edward Markey yesterday accused the Bush administration of delaying an announcement that the United States plans to impose sanctions on two Indian companies for assisting in Iran's missile program.

Markey, a Malden Democrat, said the administration is withholding the announcement for fear that it would jeopardize chances of getting congressional approval for a controversial proposal to sell nuclear technology to India.


The measure, which would make India the only country in the world to receive sensitive nuclear technology from the United States without signing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives late Wednesday. It now goes to the Senate.


The State Department is not expected to release the report on which Indian firms have been sanctioned until next week. But Reuters quoted two US officials yesterday saying that two Indian firms were being sanctioned for selling missiles-related technology to Iran.

But the US also has a $15 billion dollar weapons deal (F-16s) on the table with India's arch-rival, and fellow non-signatory to the NNPT (along with Israel), Pakistan, so its really just economics... billions and billions of dollars worth, so its all good I suppose.

Anyway, sorry for swipe at Bush but this guy just makes my head spin -- I mean which country are we at war with this week, Eurasia or Oceana.... I just can't keep track anymore.