Why is Bush so Keen on a Nuke Deal ?

#13 I hope you`re right.
Just last week there was a news item that a scientist from swaminathan research center was refused US visa to attend a conference. No reasons were given and he was asked to try again in a few months. Apparently visa denial for students and educators is on the rise. Doesn`t exactly inspire confidence that there is some stirrings of a strategic partnership, does it?

#16

you want carrots all the while and no sticks eh?

visa`s too are a tool of foreign policy and will continue to be used judiciously at ``critical`` junctures.

Parthaab

India`s anti-US policy was supported and perpetuated by its far left. But it was, initially, forged by Nehruvites - representatives of India`s then middle class. The pattern persists. Indians on far right may be thrilled, but the Indo-US deal has been struck by India`s middle.

#17 Sorry that`s insipid. Even the soviet union was actively courted during the cold war with its scientists and cultural ambassadors getting visas with ease.
A healthy partnership begins with cultural (and scientific) exchange. The host country has nothing to lose and denial comes across as crass and meanspirited. But it`s also shooting itself in the foot since it`s the universities that are complaining about F1 visa denials and the concomittant decrease in the number of students from india & china.

And India has a pretty darn sizable middle. Pakistan on the other hand a puny one. Size sure matters.

#19

the soviet union did not have family members of 1/2 of the politbureau living in the US.

Kaal chakra it is neither presumptious nor outlandish or wishful. Here is my take on this:

if you see what is on thelist - you will find it extremely revealing.

For instance none of the indeginous activities are present - most of the stuff the yanks and other know and have been there since insception of the IAEC. The thing which interested the yanks, and they didnt say outright was the FBR`s. Which if put on the list and inspected would have given away far more than what the yanks know already. Hence thefight against the FBR`s.

FBR`s is the future of Nuke Technology - and one of the key reasons for this is that the starting point of it all is ``Thorium found in great quantities in India. This makes the Nuke tech in India ``not reliant on external sources for basic raw materials. And the FBR tech India has, is built around thorium. Which makes it more interesting to the yanks for the simple reason - that there is a supplier of thorium who is not an unstable state like sudan, chad and others where U256 et al is available in quantities.

#19 bondongs please come down to my level. You`re speaking in riddles. When did students, professors and artistes become members of the politburo?

re: kulharee # 20

True, despite the rather uncomfortable image brought to mind :)

From outside at least, Pakistan`s policies - internal or external - don`t appear to be driven by her middle class.

#23
``Apparently visa denial for students and educators is on the rise.``
This is hearsay.

What is factual is that a few prominent scientists were denied visas. Since most Indian breaucrats, politicians, scientists have family in the US and value their trips here visa denial is a technique to exert influence over them.

Just to summarize (Kulharee please close your eyes & ears), the Bush administration has a haphazard foreign policy whose only coherent element seems to a vague anti-terrorist, pro-democracy sloganeering. Its attitude on various issues is full of contradiction - it wants to improve science & technology and yet has run roughshod over universities with respect to F1 visas, funding for research into alternative energy, reducing funding for education while declaring no child is to be left behind, etc., etc. To divine meaning into their actions is next to impossible.
Apparently a lot of indians, including some policy makers are looking forward to Manmohan Singh`s speech this week to understand the import of the deal reached with the US. Everything has been hush-hush and one wonders if this is nothing more than an emperor going senile and walking out buck naked to the rahrahing of the crowd.

On the visa denial thing, the American Physical Society is on the record condemning the increased number of visa denials.

Asadi uncle: China has it`s own battles. DO you think Japan is just going to sit there? Where do you tink Japanese insitutional capital that built Hongkong is going now? ANy ideas? When you come up for fresh air from your self administered rectal screening..ask. RE Funds are whetting their appetite looking at India. FII is growing as well. Think chanda think!!!

As far as selling their mothers..who isn`t Masadi? China, India, Brazil, Russia..all are selling their mothers. And it is good thing, their mothers are good looking. Look at the muslim world, their mothers are so ugly no one wants them.

#25 bongdongs, i reread what you wrote. Whereas i chalked it up to arrogance, incompetance and disinterest, you`re insinuating a sinister motive for visa denials. Doesn`t sound right to me.

re: iron_mask # 22

There is a fascinating history of Indians surprising Americans in building strategic competencies Americans refused to share with India. The issue has even been raised as a cautionary note by some defense experts testifying before the American Congress.

But I lacked the time/motivation to engage in such useless debate as may possibly follow a positive assertion of that fact. Many things just are. People`s agreeing or disagreeing with them is irrelevant.

Wonder why `righteous` Bush did nt ask MS why only 9 people have so far been convicted in GUjarat even though 3k people wer killed.

Maybe he was more intersted in selling costly planes and risked losing $$$