Indo-US civil nuclear deal dead: US official

[OhioChick]

Source: Economic Times India

11 Jun, 2008, 1249 hrs IST, AGENCIES

LONDON: The historic India-US civil nuclear deal is almost dead, according to a senior US official.

Asked whether it was now impossible to push the deal through, one Bush Administration official said: "That is probably correct," a newspaper reported.

"Even if the Indian Government were suddenly to turn around and get the IAEA stage completed, there would be no time for the remaining two stages," said Ashley Tellis, one of the original architects of the deal and now an adviser to John McCain's presidential campaign.

Tellis said that the collapse of the deal would jeopardise India's access to sensitive US technology, which could have an impact on defence sales and civil nuclear development.

"If you look at the regime between 1974 (when India conducted its first nuclear test) and 1998 (its second) that would give you some idea of what India would be heading back towards. This would be an historic blunder," he added.
Under the terms of what many saw as an audacious agreement that gives India access to civil nuclear technology and material without requiring it to renounce its nuclear weapons or join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, New Delhi had to secure the approval of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.


Read more: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Indo-US_N-deal_dead_US_official/articleshow/3119578.cms

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"the deal would jeopardise India's access to sensitive US technology?"

[Submariner]

1. Bummer! We aren't going to get the Mangoes from India now?

I was so looking forward to the fruit swap for nuclear technology. Poor little George just fails at everything. Can't even negotiate a fruit deal.

[jpak]

2. NNNOOOoooo!!11 I want my irradiated mangoes!!11

:rofl: