The Indian Express knows who's really president!

[Luftmensch067]

Got a linked to this article via Google News Alert. I couldn't believe how much respect for JK was infused into the writing. Makes my heart swell with pride. Someday, even our newspapers will know he's president. Some of them...
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=85439

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Kerry’s coming, Delhi hopes he will soften on n-deal

Visit Will meet PM on Jan 11; he was among first to warn of A Q Khan

PRANAB DHAL SAMANTA

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 6 Amid debate in the US over the July 18 nuclear deal with India, former Presidential candidate and high-profile US Democrat Senator John Kerry will make a brief visit to India next week as the Bush Administration prepares to approach Congress for an exemption to take the deal forward.

Kerry, edged out by Bush in a closely fought election last year, is slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 11. He is currently also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Considered an ardent advocate of tightening non-proliferation controls, a supportive view by Kerry will count in building a positive climate for passing the India-specific legislation that the Bush Administration plans to table soon. The proposed legislation, which will grant full exemption to India from US non-proliferation laws, needs to be passed by both chambers of the Congress.

While Kerry has always emphasised on strengthening the international non-proliferation regime, he has not openly opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal. To that extent, New Delhi will look to impress upon him the logic that the deal will actually strengthen multilateral efforts to realise long-term non-proliferation objectives.

Kerry is far from a learner on these issues. Back in December 1992, Kerry was among the first few to raise the finger of suspicion on the clandestine dealings linked with the Pakistani nuclear programme. He named A Q Khan in his report on the BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) affair and identified the matter as one that must be fully investigated in the future.

“BCCI provided $10 million in grants in the late 1980s to finance an officially ‘private’ science and technology institute named for Pakistani President Ishaq Khan, whose director, A. Qadir Khan, has been closely associated with Pakistan’s efforts to build a nuclear bomb. The institute is believed by some experts to be the headquarters for Pakistan’s efforts to build an Islamic bomb,’’ he had said then. South Block officials feel that Kerry’s understanding of the issue runs deep and that he has indicated in the past a greater role for India in curbing the clandestine spread of nuclear weapons.

India has already argued in the IAEA for a more detailed investigation into unraveling the A Q Khan network that, it feels, lies at the heart of addressing the Iran nuclear issue. This was also partly reflected in the last IAEA resolution in the matter.

Kerry’s visit comes during what has come to be known as the season for ‘‘Co-dels (Congressional delegations)’’ in Delhi. US Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, the third highest ranking official in Washington, leads a strong delegation of around 10 members, including the Indian-American Congressman Bobby Jindal, on January 13 for discussions with Indian officials. Another Congressional delegation will follow the week after.

Besides this, US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns too will be here in mid-January for talks on implementing the nuclear deal.

© 2005: Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world.

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. OMG what a terrific article

Can we bring Pranab Dhal Samanta over here to write for the Times or something?

[globalvillage]

3. He (she?) wouldn't last a week.

There is not a hint of pretty girls, death watches, celebrity marriage or divorce, sex scandals or religion in this article.
What kind of journalism is that? He couldn't squeeze in a quote from the Pope or Brad Pitt?

[sandnsea]

2. I was just going to post that

Geezo, wouldn't it be stupendous to get that kind of press here!?! BCCI and everything. I'm exhilarated and ashamed, at the same time.

[MH1]

4. Great article.

Seems to recognize that to get Kerry's support, India has to offer something of value in enhancing global non-proliferation efforts.

This is certainly a well-written and intelligent article compared with much of the shallow tripe we are fed by American media (and I mean that beyond just the pro-Kerry spin. Oh wait, it's the intelligent analysis that makes it seem so pro-Kerry) :banghead:

[_dynamicdems]

5. Great article.

It's sad that he doesn't get this kind of respect from our own media.

[globalvillage]

6. Well, they get THK, too.

Apparently, our Teresa, unlike Laura, is not seen by the IndiaTimes as so much White House wallpaper. A well deserved smackdown of US public opinion, IMO.

And if Laura scored over Teresa Heinz Kerry in the 2004 presidential campaign, it was because the Democratic candidate’s spouse was not always smiling cheerfully at the TV cameras tracking her every move in public. US public opinion wants its First Lady wannabes to want to look interested in remaining gracefully in the White House background!
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1359197,curpg-1.cms

[jenndar]

8. Love that quote. n/t

[beachmom]

7. Thanks for posting -- no idea how deep BCCI ran

Has there been a book written about BCCI that covers all of this with Kerry as the central figure exposing it? If it hasn't been written, it should be. It could be the Tour of Duty for his '08 campaign (not that I'm trying to get ahead of myself!). Wow, I think I'll forward this to my Indian friend and see what he thinks. But I will be honest that it makes me nervous that we are giving India an exemption on nuclear weapons. I realize it's part of the great compromises that need to be made (cater to some very useful allies), but it makes us look like a bunch of hypocrites, doesn't it? Join our club, and you can have nuclear weapons; if not, expect sanctions or maybe we'll even invade you!!

[ProSense]

9. There is a book, but see this post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=50218&mesg_id=50510

[blm]

11. BCCI should have been on every reporters' tongue since 9-11.

I damn Shrum for telling campaign not to use BCCI - he said it confused people. BULL - FUCKING - SHIT!

[globalvillage]

10. Has this been posted in GD?

I couldn't find it anywhere.

[blm]

14. I hope someone DOES post it there -

I suggested a subject line in my post below.

[blm]

12. PLEASE POST in GD - maybe US papers will pick up the significance of the

story.

We'll give you back up

Try a subject line like this -

India excited over next week's Kerry visit - cites his work on BCCI.

[europegirl4jfk]

13. Nicholas Burns? Is this a coincidence?

That's the guy Kerry would have kept at the State Department. Richard Holbrooke presumably said it as stated in this article:

http://www.nysun.com/article/23314

"When John Kerry is president and I'm secretary of state and Nicholas Burns here is undersecretary of state for political affairs ..."



BTW, I wish you all a very belated Happy New Year! I'm just back from my London trip and catching up with the great stuff here.

[globalvillage]

15. Now that I'm past the shock

of seeing a positive and insightful news story regarding Sen Kerry, how do you think he'll approach the subject of exempting India from non proliferation? Who is sponsoring this legislation, and where does the Senator stand?
Excuse my ignorance, but I've not studied this at all.

[blm]

16. Went ahead and posted in GD... check out the interesting replies.....

.

[globalvillage]

17. He will be in Pakistan on Wed

Anyone know when he's leaving the US?
Just a bit nervous, here.

[ProSense]

18. I try not to think about it.

I just hope they feed back some great pictures like the ones from his last Mid-East trip. Haven't seen any of those lately.

[wisteria]

19. Does anyone know if he is part of the Co-dels" group of Hastert's?

Or, is he taking this trip on his own?

[TayTay]

20. More foreign press coverage

John Kerry due on January 14

Source: BUSINESS RECORDER
Date: January 07, 2006

Senator John Kerry, Member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a
prominent Democratic Party leader will visit Pakistan on January 14 and 15. He
is likely to visit the earthquake-hit areas, besides meeting relief workers and
officials.

Giving details, Shahid Khan, Co-Chairman of the Kerry Campaign Committee on
Finance Thursday said that John Kerry would earlier visit India on January
11-13 and would also visit Iraq on January 17.

APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)

*******************

There is obviously a mistranslation on the Committee info.

[beachmom]

21. Visiting Iraq on "x date" -- well let's just give the insurgency enough

lead time. I think it should NEVER be printed when a prominent official visits Iraq, even though it is a large country. Hopefully, the insurgents and terrorist groups there believe the snarky MSM, and think Kerry is no longer relevant. Here's hoping. Okay, I wasn't nervous the other times, but such info is sensitive and shouldn't be traveling around the internet and get in the wrong hands. Maybe another prayer thread may be warranted, Little Clarkie (even for those of us who aren't quite sure if there is a God, throwing a prayer in for good measure certainly wouldn't hurt!!).

[TayTay]

22. I don't actually think that is accurate.

I think the Senator might be in Iraq around that date. The Senate is due back on 1/18 and I think Sen. Reid has some tasks assigned to his fellow Dems. We shall see.