Left Flank

Before allowing my hatred towards the US Senate dissipate into optimism, I have to report another blundering decision to end a 30-year old ban on nuclear fuel and technology to India, by an 86-13 vote.

Eric Hundman tries to be cheery and point out that the mere existence of such a geopolitically-retarded law doesn't necessitate execution. Right!

This and several other provisions seem to be designed to allow the United States opportunities to prevent or halt technology transfer if circumstances call for it. Such potential loopholes also highlight one particularly important fact: The deal's approval does not necessarily mean the United States will actually sell much civilian nuclear technology to India. It is now legal to do so in most cases, but political, bureaucratic, economic, or diplomatic barriers may nonetheless end up being too problematic to overcome. Indeed, the Bush administration secretly told Congress it would not sell «sensitive» nuclear technologies to India in a letter earlier this month. For those unhappy with this deal, the details of the bill leave America with plenty of wiggle room.

Only, that is, if American lawmakers continue to disregard err...you know, laws. Opponents' angry remarks are just not reassuring enough.
Pakistan lost no time proving why the law drives a stake into the heart of the non-proliferation regime.

Yesterday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told reporters, «You don't have to be worried about [the deal]. Pakistan will now be justified to also make a demand for a similar deal as we don't want discrimination.»

Now, about those opponents who argued that an exemption for India would undermine nuclear non-proliferation efforts and encourage an arms race in the region…

Future American administrations' ability to affect South Asian and East Asian relations has already begun to falter.

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