The Exception: Indian Nuke Policy

Yo.. nothing makes me more happy than a rosy relationship between India and US. Both countries are good examples of successful democracies and are prominent role players. India has gotten to a late start in mending frosty relationships with western countries, and the cold war dynamics of earlier decades and India's love affair with Russia were bumps in the road.

President Clinton broke the ice after a frosty time following the 98' Nuclear bomb tests in Pokhran,India. Clinton, the darling of millions of Indians, both during and after his presidency, is a man much appreciated and loved -- deified --in India. Particularly, his charity work in India and other third world countries are legendary. I still recollect the Clinton craze in the early part of this decade when Bollywood cine-stars started naming their condos the "White House".

A lot has to do with the westernization of India, you find people listening to rap and hip-hop in posh cities and trying to be as American as possible. Yes, India does have an American love affair. This love affair was borne from the yearning, the younger generation has for quality life and the gap between dream and reality -- corruption and poverty and illetracy -- in India (although thanks to BPO, the urban population are getting their corns now).

Naturally when various New-Polls found President Bush as an amicable man, this was more a reflcetion of what Indians feel about America. Oggling America is now of the past, mating and dating is the new theme. The sense of confidence, bashfully and quite reflective, of Indians -- aided by -- the orgy of jobs that American firms tend to throw at hopeful graduates facilitates this unlikely romance between US and India.

Well, it is a love-affair, for only in love affairs do we make exceptions, do we ease or even lose - if worthy -- our views and perceptions and our "donts" in favor of a romantic partner or so America hopes. Love-affairs can be blissful and poisonous, can be heaven and hell -- potential partners, have to agree to disagree and hopefuly not disagree to agree.

Ironically, its the "disagree to agree" affair that China and US had that made US ditch China for a India. India, wisely, went to the beauty parlor -- manufactured nukes -- and built herself into a beauty -- with bombs -- and looked attractive enough for the US to develop a crush for India -- or so we think.

This crush -- or the necessity to show the ex (China) -- has made US bend its rules, even dance around and pardon India for conducting the nuclear tests. Even though the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty urges budding nation not get carried away with nuclear fission and fusion, thats exactly what India did. Like other disobedient countries India faced a "slap on the wrist" sanctions and that was rescinded by President Bush, whi had a grand idea.

With Bush calling signals, US started dating India. And now that the date is beyond "share our door-key" relationship, US bends some more to accomodate an increasingly spoiled blonde -- India.

There are two scenarios where lovers give and take, in plutonic love like the Brits have with US and the Radical Islamists have with terrorism or the mutual prom time love, where each partner gets air-time for making waves with an unlikely receptor -- a la Jenn Anniston and Brad Pitt.

From a truly selfish point, this is a sweet-heart deal for India, it gets to break the Non-Proliferation treaty, it gets to develop and test Nukes in secrecy and not get referred to International Atomic Agency and it also gets the trade embargo rescinded and finally -- for some whipped cream on your starbucks chocolate coolatta -- India gets the "knowledge" for civil usage of nuclear technology and alternate fuel.

The NPT - for starters - is what the political community calls a "carrot and stick" approach. You obey international laws you get help, you disobey international laws your funds get cut and trades stopped. A simple effective treatment that has prevented or delayed many rogue nations -- looking at you Axis of Evils -- from getting the wrong technology for the wrong use.

Now, NPT, is not only a simple law, its a fundamental agreement, something that was looked upon with respect for its effectiveness. The US for its own purpose -- of getting a balancing power to China -- is amenable to break this law as an exception.

Wow.. thats sweet if i look at it as an Indian, but makes me fear if for one fleeting minute i look at it as a citizen of the world. Now whats going to prevent some other rogue nation from pointing India as an example who broke the treaty and benefitted from it too?

The plan to avoid Nuclear explosive material from getting to the wrong person will be compromised by this ridiculous sweet heart deal that Condoleeza Rice and George Bush are polishing. What is to say India -- once attaining the high cliff of counter-Chinese ally -- will favor US always, whats to say India is not vulnerable to its brittle anti-US Communist and Left parties.

President Bush with his "one grand" plan is landing ths US in "one major pickle".