Envoy: U.S. Eager for India Nuke Deal

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20061110/D8LAEHC81.html

Envoy: U.S. Eager for India Nuke Deal
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Nov 10, 4:01 PM (ET)

NEW DELHI (AP) - A top U.S. official said Friday that Washington is eager to finalize a civilian nuclear pact with India, and urged it to work with neighboring Pakistan in the fight against terrorism when they resume peace talks next week.

The agreement to provide India with much-needed nuclear fuel is seen as a cornerstone of the emerging alliance between New Delhi and Washington after nearly a half-century of Cold War estrangement.

It has strong supporters in both U.S. political parties and was overwhelmingly endorsed by the House of Representatives in July.


U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher speaks at a press conference in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 10, 2006. Boucher met top Indian government officials during his visit to South Asia. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)

The Senate, however, must still approve the deal, and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher said he was "very hopeful" the matter would be taken up by the outgoing Senate.

FULL story at link above.

[AlamoDemoc]

1. reading the last sentence, I doubt this is still the case

"...It has strong supporters in both U.S. political parties and was overwhelmingly endorsed by the House of Representatives in July."

[struggle4progress]

2. Nuke deal one of the top issues: White House (The Hindu)

... "...the top of the list, if you start taking a look at the lame-duck session, we've already laid out a series of things on which both sides can work right now: the India civil nuclear deal, ..." White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters when asked to list the top issues for the Lame Duck session ...

After his meeting with Bush, the present Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who is tipped to become the Senate Majority Leader, said the first order of business when the session gets under way next year is Congressional oversight.

Reid also stressed that the President and the small group of senators had discussed several issues and hoped that the spirit of bi-partisanship will also be reflected at the Lame Duck session ...

"Nothing can be accomplished in this town unless it's on a bipartisan basis. That's the way it goes," he added ...

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200611110901.htm

[rpannier]

3. Did he explain to scrubbie the definition of bipartisan

Because scrubs definition is "The Democrats do what I want -- and I still call them disloyal, unAmerican traitors."