Hitting the Trifecta

It isn't often that a president can break an international treaty, screw up on-going negotiations between other nations having to do with that treaty, and then insult an "ally" on the same issue, all on the same trip. Yet that is exactly what the Emperor in Chief managed to do (as well as commit several rather egregious faux pas, but we're all kind of used to that).

The rest of the world is clearly stunned by the deal BushCo cut with India. The Netherlands called it quite accurately in a recent NRCHandelsblad article.

Yesterday's accord between the United States and India on nuclear cooperation makes it crystal clear that Washington holds an ambivalent attitude when it comes to nuclear horse trading. Friendly nations with nuclear ambitions are held to different standards than unfriendly ones. Arbitrariness occurs when it comes to foreign relations, but the timing of this accord and its blatant overtones are remarkable.

While in the middle of difficult negotiations with Iran about Teheran's nuclear program, Delhi is recognized and rewarded for its economic achievements using nuclear technology. Of course, limited to civil purposes, but on the other hand, this appeaser for critics fails to address the fact that India has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Nuclear cooperation with India may well intensify the nuclear arms race in the region.

This accord also undermines the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Because of this American disingenuousness, it opens the door for Iran to ignore further warnings and any eventual ultimatums. Contrary to India and the other nuclear powers, Iran has actually cooperated with nuclear inspectors. It is a member of the Non Proliferation Treaty. It is clear that Iran doesn't need nuclear weapons. But it can rightfully claim the right to use nuclear power for civil applications. Why is Iran not allowed to pursue what India and America are allowed to? [Emphasis added]

But, wait! It gets better. The next stop on the Emperor's Excellent Adventure was Pakistan, our "ally" in the war in Afghanistan and in the Global War on Terror. Pakistan and India have been enemies pretty much since the ink was dry on the partition by the British. What did the Emperor have in his goody bag for Pakistan? Not much, according to an editorial in the Pakistani Frontier Post.

For India awards, for Afghanistan applause, and for Pakistan pious vows, if not expectations; how else can you truthfully describe President Bush’s just-concluded journeys to these three nations? He gave a nuclear deal to Indian that would leave it with its fast breeder reactors unmonitored to keep producing as much fuel for weapons as it likes, with Pakistan desperately trailing all the time to maintain its minimum deterrence at great economic costs. He was all praise for President Hamid Karzai, whose effective authority doesn’t run beyond his own mansion, for taking his people marching on the road of democracy. And for Pakistan? Well, much may have transpired in his meeting with his host, President Pervez Musharraf. But what came to the public fore wasn’t that exhilarating. It was only promises or expectations, nothing tangible to dance and sing about.

Before his visit, the official spin-doctors here had put out that a raft of agreements and memoranda of understanding would be signed when he arrives in Islamabad. None was signed. Not even a bilateral investment treaty, which they had touted to be the opener of new vistas of trade and economic ties between the two countries. For the nuclear deal with India, the American officials had burnt the midnight oil with their Indian interlocutors to finalise it for signing during his New Delhi visit. No such urgency was shown by the Americans to close this investment agreement with Pakistan for its signing during his Islamabad sojourn.

And if some incorrigible optimists, who were reading a lot in US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s magic words “not for the time being” to give themselves to the delusion that an India-like nuclear deal could also come to Pakistan, their hopes were put paid by Mr. Bush. He left no doubt about it that for such a deal his administration doesn’t view India and Pakistan alike but differently. The only sop he had for Pakistan was that his energy secretary would come here some time to discuss its energy needs. What thereafter, he didn’t mention that, too. Is this how the Bush administration is to augment America’s strategic partnership with Pakistan on long-term basis? [Emphasis added]

Of course, right now the two countries are different. India, whose economy is taking off, has begun outbidding and out competing with the US for oil. That had to stop, so the Emperor gave the go ahead to and the help necessary for India to use nuclear energy in the hopes that huge nation would give the US corporations a little breathing room. The fact that as a non-signatory to the Non-proliferation Treaty India would not be subject to regular inspections to make certain that the nuclear work would be for civilian use rather than military use doesn't matter, at least to the Emperor.

Pakistan, Iran, and the rest of the world don't quite agree. But that doesn't matter much to the Emperor or his minions either.

Way to go, George.