Senate Passes Indian Nuclear Deal

The final session for this Senate passed passed the final legislation to approve a deal with India that will allow the US and India to cooperate on civilian nuclear power programs. The deal, despite some opposition, serves to bind the two democracies closer together.

"This truly bipartisan effort is an excellent step forward," said Henry Hyde, the outgoing Republican chairman of the House International Relations Committee. "It recognises the nuclear reality of India," he said Saturday.

Named after the retiring 16-term Congressman, the "Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006" was expected to be signed by Bush into law.

Under the controversial deal, India, a non-signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), will be given access to civilian nuclear fuel and technology in return for placing its atomic reactors under global scrutiny.

The US Congress had to create a rare exception for India from some of the requirements of the US Atomic Energy Act, which currently prohibits nuclear sales to non-NPT signatories.

Washington stopped nuclear cooperation with India after it conducted its first nuclear test in 1974.

"This is a historic day for this House and for the United States," said Tom Lantos, the new Democratic chairman of the House international relations committee.

If all requirements are met in the agreement, India's nuclear program will come under safeguards approved by the IAEA. There are still a number of hurdles to full implementation. Once all conditions have been satisfied, the Congress will have to vote once again on the program. Is it perfect? No. Does it at least bring India under some nuclear controls instead of leaving them completely outside the international community? Yes it does. It is a foot in the door to get them into the Non-Proliferation Treaty eventually. Right now they are under no international oversight whatsoever.