my message is India is a big democratic country like USA. Though USA is a big sponser to UNO, but in some terms it crosses its limit thinking that it is mercy on whole world (UNO). In the nuclear issue USA should think and act. Santions and wars are not real solution for the problem. Iraq, Afganisthan, libya, siriya,was attacked or kept under sanctions, next Iran. My message is that problem should be solved under UNO terms. USA is not the father of UNO. and at the Same time India should react correctly in wellbeing of Iran people. just in short India should vote againt Iran but not under the pressure of USA or for the Dummy Security Council Seat in UNO. think about IRAN people. Once India should prove that it is not under the pressure of USA by voting againt US.
To obtain technology from US might not be a good idea for India. Why not search around and see who can got better offer on table without any strings attached. Entering into an agreement might restrict India for something which they India does not know today and trusting US might result harmful for Indian economy and freedom later. You have too many engineering and scientists of your own and technology available by others and it would be better if given thoughts before going ahead with US.
RE:A collaboration
by Satheesh on Feb 21, 2006 06:35 PM Permalink
akram, your idea is nice, but you need to read a little more about the background. No other country has anything in the table. US is trying to bend the rules of the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) to favour India... inspite of the various opposition it is running into it. Also, by signing the agreement with US, we are not throwing away out rights to do any research... as claimed by many. Yes, I agree it is a costly exercise to mark the nuclear facilities as civilian and military, but the advantage we get from it many times the cost of the separation. Middle east countries are minting money from crude oil, and we are dependent on their fuel for 75% of our needs. We are paying 20 billion dollars (around 85,000 crores) every year to import oil from other countries. Please understand, we urgently need a long term supply of clean fuel. Our fast breeder reactors won't be ready until 2011.
Is the author a strategic defence analyst or a strategic master of word play?
Why did India seek a nuclear agreement with US? Is India running out nucelar fuel? If so, tell it as it is, instead of being paternalistic, "responsible" and clouding it in words that only those who know can decipher. Indians can stomach the news that Indian ran out of nuclear fuel - no need to camouflage it in "strategic" terms and being economical with the truth.
RE:It's not about nuclear weapons
by Satheesh on Feb 21, 2006 06:07 PM Permalink
There is no reason for you to be angry ! take an example from IT - we want the restrictions on H1B to go, right. We can't go to US and say, our Computer Science engineers do not have work in India, so please remove the restrictions on H1B. We have to see the whole issue under the ambit of "free movement of professionals". Okay. Also, no one in the govt is hiding the fact that we are running out of fuel for our tarapur reactor.
PKL. Feb.,21,tuesday, 2006. Well on the impending welcome that all government leaders have to offer to sr. Manmohansingh's Guest US president Mr George Bush (jr)starting March 1, sri Bhaskar chimes his lyric with adroit verve about , closing old misgivings and skirting sectional misgivings among nuclear circles of the implications of IAEA inspection of proposed separation of civilian facilities from the Military..the fact is we are likely to be poorly placed as far as the scenario of strategic second -strike capability is likely to be weakened with Fast-Breeder -Reactors being subjected to IAEA inspections , and preventing Thorium technology for weapon programme.Anil Kakodar's concerns need to be fully met.Bush & INDO-US new ties notwithstanding.D.Goel
This is an excellent position paper for an Indian perspective on strategic need for a meaningful framework for cooperation to mitigate terror threat as well caters to the needs of Indian economic development.
If only the US policy analysts realise that India, a non-aligned power, would have the credibility and cultural bandwidth to be a factor of international stability which French at one time had been playing to some extent, but have ruled themselves out of it due to their Eurocentric preoccupations and internal politics.
After Eisenhower the next US president to visit India was Carter not Nixon. I agree it is not about nuclear weapons. It is about India's Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)program. U.S. which has not built a nuclear power plant after 1978 would like a peek at FBR and if possible appropriate it and shackle India's further development of it under the guise of IAEA safeguards. I do not believe USA has advanced technology to offer, except perhaps safety features. The agreement may give India access to latest international nuclear power technology. But Indians should be able to master such technology and not be forever dependent on foreigners to build and operate nuclear power plant. Morever India should have the freedom to develop FBR (whether for defence or commercial power generation)without any hindrance from IAEA or Americans, safeguard its intellectual property rights to such technology and market it internationally on normal commercial terms without hindrance. India should insist on observing the letter and spirit of the agreement to the last detail and not allow Americans to bludgeon it into unilateral revisions in the false hopes of getting approval for the agreement from US Congress.
A lot of commentators have raised doubts about the proposed nuclear deal and its dangers (outsourcing India's security to the U.S., scietific community etc.). This commentator gets its right though. This deal represents a huge opportunity for India - a coming of age deal. It represents a seismic shift in U.S. policy. Rejecting it for unfounded national security or swadeshi (whatever that means) reasons would be a great mistake. Dr. Singh is an astute leader and a great visionary who knows that India needs external technology and partnership to blossom into a real power. We Indians have to loose the old baggage and be pragmatic.
Most important block to forge ahead the relationship is the cold-war mindset like few Americans think India is not a responsible state to handle nuclear material and few Indians think it is blasphamous to go with the yankees. The matter of the fact is that the yeomen contributions of millions of farmers' hard labor conferred India's self reliance in food. The scientific and technological adavancement that India has achieved despite imposed sanctions on her by the nuclear elite clubs have yielded a shock and awe effect. The evolution of Indian corporate houses, technically-savvy manpower, ever-growing market, business opportunities, vibrant democracy all have made significant contributions to help INDIA to emerging as an epitome of growth and sustainable development. Under this backdrop the West has all the equations in their ace to forge an alliance with India. A sound economic progress will empower India's political leverage and responsibility to uphold the interests of the developing nations. Progres is not achievable unless substantiated with wealth, India is simply doing that. It will be a betrayal to the teeming billions to keep them out of such immense possibilities.
