Non-proliferation expert accuses Bush govt of "double-speak"
A leading non-proliferation expert has accused the State Department of indulging in "double speak" over the agreement.
By PTI |
WASHINGTON: Strongly opposing the Bush administration's attempts to seek a quick vote on the Indo-US nuclear deal in the Congress, a leading non-proliferation expert has accused the State Department of indulging in "double speak" over the agreement.
Massachussetts Democrat Edward J Markey, who is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and founder and co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Non-proliferation, said the Congress must carefully look into whether the deal confirms to the 2006 Hyde Act before approving it.
He also hammered away at the Bush government for "misleading" Senate testimony on the landmark agreement with India.
"Today, the State Department claimed that if India tests a nuclear weapon, the deal would be terminated, but just last week the US Ambassador to India said that India 'will always have the sovereign right to conduct a test," Markey said.
"This double-speak is dangerous and misleading and must end," the Massachussetts Democrat said in a statement.
It is clear, he said, that the Bush administration has not seriously followed the requirements of the US law in negotiating this deal.
"Now, the president's attempt to force an immediate approval vote is compromising the ability of the Congress to scrutinise this agreement and fix its many problems," he added.
Massachussetts Democrat Edward J Markey, who is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and founder and co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Non-proliferation, said the Congress must carefully look into whether the deal confirms to the 2006 Hyde Act before approving it.
He also hammered away at the Bush government for "misleading" Senate testimony on the landmark agreement with India.
"Today, the State Department claimed that if India tests a nuclear weapon, the deal would be terminated, but just last week the US Ambassador to India said that India 'will always have the sovereign right to conduct a test," Markey said.
"This double-speak is dangerous and misleading and must end," the Massachussetts Democrat said in a statement.
It is clear, he said, that the Bush administration has not seriously followed the requirements of the US law in negotiating this deal.
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"Now, the president's attempt to force an immediate approval vote is compromising the ability of the Congress to scrutinise this agreement and fix its many problems," he added.
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