Democrats (including Kerry) have slowed down passing India Nuclear Deal

[beachmom]

I'll preface this to say I don't really like this deal we gave India. We told them it was okay that they broke the rules of the Nonproliferation Treaty, and we got NOTHING in return. So here is this highly critical article of Democrats in an Indian newspaper, and I have to say I am rather pleased with Dems not to be in a hurry ratifying this deal:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2055319.cms

Efforts to find an agreement crashed when Harry Reid, the Democrat leader, insisted on an amendment which would stop Indian spent fuel from going to the Yucca Mountain Repository. He refused to relent, and things went on a slippery slope from then on.

It's now clear that India's friends on the Hill are certainly not Democrats. From Senate minority leader Reid to John Kerry, Russ Feingold and Barbara Boxer, its been a Democrat blockade all the way.

Even India Caucus co-chair and a possible presidential candidate in 2008, Hilary Clinton, has stayed away from supporting the legislation.

The Indian government will now redouble its lobbying efforts with the Democrats because it needs to show bipartisan support to the Bill. Otherwise, in a Democratic-majority situation, the bill could suffer much more.

Message to snarky Indian newspaper: get over yourselves. This is how the Senate works. Most Dems said they support the treaty, but good on them not to allow it to steam roll through.

[ProSense]

1. Interesting! Here is a WaPo report:

India resigned to wait as U.S. nuclear deal delayed

By Y.P. Rajesh
Reuters
Sunday, October 1, 2006; 5:31 AM

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India sought to put on a brave face on Sunday over an unexpected delay in the approval of a landmark nuclear deal with the United States amid nervousness in New Delhi that the controversial pact could slip away.

The deal, which aims to give India access to U.S. civilian nuclear technology for the first time in three decades, had been expected to be approved by the U.S. Senate last week before it adjourned for elections in November.

However, the chamber could not take up the bill due to differences between Republicans and Democrats despite both sides expressing strong support for the deal and pointing fingers at the other for the delay.

"The bill actually enjoys bipartisan support and it is our hope that this will find its way through U.S. domestic legal procedures as soon as possible," said India's new foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/01/AR2006100100120.html

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. This is what Frist tried to sneak through

at nearly 3 a.m. Saturday morning, Reid objected.