Exclusive JK interview

[whometense]

http://specials.rediff.com/news/2006/jan/16sld01.htm?q=tp

'This is a big step we are taking with respect to India'

...With the nuclear accord -- which has unfortunately become a symbol for the transformed India-US relationship -- confronting rough passage in the American parliament -- the US Congress, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate -- the Manmohan Singh government was no doubt anxious to win an influential Senator like Kerry over to its side to enhance India's case before Congress.

Senator Kerry may have backed the accord at a press conference in New Delhi last Thursday, but as he told Nikhil Lakshman India needs to do much more before Congress ratifies the nuclear agreement. A frank, exclusive interview with rediff India Abroad. Photographs: Dominic Xavier...



Your fellow Democrat from Pennsylvania, Congressman John Murtha, has called for the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

No, he did not.

An almost immediate withdrawal.

No, he did not. He asked for the almost immediate redeployment (of American troops). He talked about leaving a certain number of them at the border and some of them in Kuwait. But he clearly envisons them being involved in the provision of security...

[rox63]

1. Great interview

But it's kinda sad that he's getting much more and better press in India than he does here in the US.

[whometense]

2. I agree.

They treat him over there with the respect he deserves.

[ginnyinWI]

3. He is certainly in his element.

The man lives and breathes foreign policy. Needs a promotion. :think:

[jillan]

4. What amazes me

is how relaxed, and how natural he looks sitting there.

A far, far cry from our commander in chief.

[globalvillage]

5. Thanks, whome.

Good post.
He's doing great work there. Nice pics, too.
Isn't he meeting with troops today? I can't wait to see photos.

[sandnsea]

6. Impressive

Anybody notice the quality of the questions. Can we outsource our journalists??

[ProSense]

7. Excellent interview.

Loved this response:

That is not what I am talking about. There are certain realties we understand which have not yet been acknowledged by the global community. We are living a fiction. The fiction is there are only five nuclear States in the world. Everybody knows it is a fiction. I don't think we strengthen ourselves by setting up agreements that are based on fiction.




Reality as opposed to Bush's make believe world.

[MH1]

8. This part is good, too -

(Kerry) In principle, this agreement is good because it takes a State that has a nuclear programme, that is outside of the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) and brings a majority of it (nuclear programme) inside the IAEA. On the face of it, that is a positive step.

Secondly, by doing so, it encourages, I think, other countries to recognize that there is a respect for the IAEA process.

This is important because the expectation was that JK wouldn't go along with this because he's been so adamant on non-proliferation, but this passage explains why the agreement (in principle) is actually good for non-proliferation and therefore he is supporting it. Of course he is also being very clear to point out that there are caveats to his support, that if certain things aren't part of the agreement than he will not be happy with it.