Congressional Section

Write your Congressional Representatives

Vote Yes for US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement

Please use the eight sample letter templates below to write your House Representative regarding House Bill HR4974 and your TWO Senators regarding Senate Bill S2429.

Sample Letter #1

Dear Honorable ______:

I write to you today to ask your support for President George W. Bush’s initiative for separation of India's civilian and strategic nuclear assets. True, the President expects that this will lead to the conditions necessary for legislation to enable the US to sell nuclear materials and technology to India, but let us not lose sight of the enormous benefits of the first sentence – the separation of India's civilian and strategic nuclear assets; let us not lose sight of the attendant benefits to America – which is the focus of today’s letter.

What are the benefits to the United States and the international community?

1. More oversight than ever before: As Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nick Burns stated, because of this agreement, India will "open up a majority of its nuclear power reactors and its associated nuclear facilities to permanent IAEA -- International Atomic Energy Agency -- safeguards. … Since the establishment of the Indian nuclear program in 1974, there has been little international oversight, and now the majority of India's program will be under supervision of the International Agency."
2. New nonproliferation obligations: "India, for the very first time in 30 years, has accepted new nonproliferation obligations. It has now passed a national export control law, which will bring its legal requirements into international conformance. It has committed to refrain from transferring any of its nuclear technologies. It has reasserted its commitment to maintain a unilateral moratorium of nuclear testing, and it has agreed to work with the United States towards a fissile material cutoff treaty. These are gains that were not possible during any time over the last 30 years; they are made possible by this agreement."
3. International support: At a time when the United States faces increasing isolation from the international community on important matters, this is a chance to be one with our allies. "Dr. El Baradei, the Chairman and the Nobel laureate of the IAEA, has indicated that he is in support of this deal. … A number of our allies in Europe, the Russian government, have all said that they would favor this initiative. So we do expect broad-scale international support."
4. The Democracy Dividend: For decades, the U.S. has supported the concept of democracy and its spread all over the world. India is the world’s largest democracy and is the only large vibrant multiethnic democracy in that part of the world. This is an incredible opportunity to ‘put our support where our mouth is.’ It is worth pointing out that India had nuclear weapons capability for almost 25 years. Although it has fought three wars with Pakistan, India has never once used them nor threatened to use them. Moreover, unlike China and Pakistan, India did not share this capability with another country. This shows incredibly responsible behavior and here is an opportunity to show that we respect and reward such behavior.
5. Strategic Partnership: The United States needs a Strategic Partner in southern Asia. Would it be good strategy to align ourselves with totalitarian regimes, dictatorships, potential theocracies, breeding grounds for terrorism, or with the world’s largest democracy?
6. Commercial benefits: India is a rapidly growing economy. The middle class of India is estimated to be 300 million people; greater than the size of the U.S. population. It makes good practical sense to open this market to American business. It is now a vibrant industrial and business economy, where the language of the courts, commerce, and the government is English, and the rule of law is effectively established.
7. Energy: China and India, in their race for a place in world commercial markets, will increase tremendously the demand for energy. They are, of necessity, being forced to make deals with countries less than friendly to the United States, because energy is a critical part of their future and success. Their increasing demand for energy impacts us directly because of supply and price considerations. If U.S. companies are allowed to sell nuclear reactors to China, assisting India in the same way makes sense because it will further reduce their international demand for oil. This, in turn, yields a clear and distinct benefit to the United States in terms of available international supply of oil and the price at which we can buy it.

For these reasons and others, my respectful but firm request to you is to side with President Bush and approve his nuclear initiative for separation of India's civilian and strategic nuclear assets.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter #2

Dear Honorable _____:

As an Indian American and proud citizen of the United States, I am writing to you to ask for your support to civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and India. Legislation authorizing this cooperation will soon be considered by Congress. Its passage is essential to the strategic partnership between the United States and India, to which President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have committed.

Many Americans are coming to understand that the transformed U.S.-India relationship represents one of the most significant foreign policy developments of the 21st century. The United States and India, the world’s oldest and largest democracies, are natural allies. They share a commitment to freedom; the rule of law; open markets; technological innovation; and a vital national interest in combating terrorists and terrorist proliferation networks.

The Government of India has no record of proliferating dual use nuclear technology to other countries. In the U.S.-India Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, "President Bush conveyed his appreciation to the Prime Minister over India’s strong commitment to preventing WMD proliferation and stated that as a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology, India should acquire the same benefits and advantages of other such states."

The United States and India are growing ever more important to each other as commercial partners. India's good nonproliferation record makes it a trustworthy partner in a range of high technology commercial and defense projects.

The growing middle class in India – already as large as the entire U.S. population, at 300 million people – is increasing in importance as a consumer of American goods and services. This means jobs and prosperity in America. But to keep this trend going, India needs to satisfy the mounting energy demands of a burgeoning modern economy. For India to do this with its domestic dirty coal would mean more pollution in India and unnecessary damage to the global environment.

President Bush’s reception in India earlier this month – like President Clinton’s in 2000 -- was celebratory. There is a palpable excitement and anticipation of the potential for our friendship and partnership.

Indian-Americans are a bridge between these two great nations, and as a community we are eager to support this historic initiative, including the civil-nuclear agreement.

I thank you for your consideration and support for the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter #3

Dear Honorable _______:

I request you to support the US-India nuclear agreement. Your vote will be of monumental importance to the future of the United States as a premier global power and to the preservation and propagation of the American way of life for years to come.

Goldman Sachs in its report on the global economy in 2050 ranks four countries apart from the US in the top 5. These are India, China, Russia and Brazil. Of these, India and China are in Asia and account for half the world's population. China is China. But India is fiercely democratic, pluralistic and a bulwark against forces of extremism and proliferation that are threatening to sweep across Asia and indeed the world. India is a country with OVER 1 BILLION PEOPLE, and robust institutions that govern them, which incidentally, are the pride of the American way of public life and governance. A country with family, religious pluralism, independent judiciary, an executive that famously gets elected out every 5 years, a bipartisan foreign policy, a free press and a robust entrepreneurial culture as its core values.

India is growing rapidly. It has a 300 million strong and growing middle class (larger than the population of the US), a fertile market for American goods and services. India is the only country in the world where 70% of its people (Survey in "the Economist") have an extremely positive view of America.

India has globally recognized legitimate security needs and is a proud nation, and makes up its own mind about the threat from enemies of freedom, the enemies that threaten freedom anywhere. As you can well understand, the enemies of freedom strike at will across the world, and freedom has to be strong to defend itself. India has acquired a modest nuclear arsenal because it exists in a neighborhood that is almost entirely undemocratic and unstable. The strident cold war rhetoric that India is being rewarded for "bad behavior" is not just distasteful but profoundly incorrect. India has not proliferated nuclear technologies beyond its borders -- not even when it was under US sanctions. IAEA Director General Dr. El Baradei would not have endorsed the deal as soon as it was first announced if the deal really rewarded proliferation. Dear_____________, I hope your vote will work towards acknowledging that America respects and rewards responsible behavior.

India also needs energy, and is willing to offer approximately $50 billion market to develop its capacity to wean itself away from dependence on fossil fuel. This historic agreement will allow the US and India to cooperate fully on civilian nuclear energy and in so doing benefit both India and the West. If this were not mutually beneficial, Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair would not have supported this immediately and wholeheartedly.

You need to vote YES on this deal to ensure that India becomes a friend and a trusting partner to the United States. Making this partnership a success gives the US unprecedented leverage in Asia, a partner against terror, a partner in the cause of democracy, and very importantly, a huge market for American goods and services and American agricultural produce. To begin with, at least $50 billion is up for grabs in the nuclear power sector alone, and the merger of India's two major government-owned airlines in the next few months will create the demand for a fleet of Boeing planes. That means lots of American jobs. The balance sheet of this partnership can be huge, and all in the long term favor of the United States.

You can help America get in on the ground floor of this immense country as it arises from slumber. You can secure a future partner and a "natural ally" in Asia, or you can get in the way of American interests and vote against the deal, on the basis of misplaced interpretation of the norms of non-proliferation. You can show yourself to be a modern, forward thinking, pro-America Congressman who favors closer relations with democratic India. Or, you can be swayed by fear-mongering of the nonproliferation lobby. If you make the right decision, in favor of this deal, generations of Americans and a billion people across the world will thank you. The choice is yours.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter #4

Dear Honorable _____:

The joint statement issued by U.S. President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Washington in July of 2005, had as one of its stated objectives - "to transform the relationship between the two countries and establish a global partnership." And indeed, President Bush's recent historic trip to India served to confirm the commitment by both countries to expand and strengthen that relationship.

Without a doubt, among the most prominent and heralded of the accomplishments of this evolving partnership was the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement that was announced on March 2, 2006 in New Delhi, India. Such an achievement can be realized only when parties share a significant degree of mutual respect and trust. India has proven worthy of American respect by sustaining its democracy despite the hurdles of poverty, religious and ethnic plurality, and a large authoritarian neighborhood. It has borne its responsibilities as a nuclear technology producer by refusing to share these dangerous technologies with others. The U.S. has recognized India not only as a regional power, but also as a country that has, and will have an ever-increasing influence on the global stage. It is a country that can contribute to the peace, progress, and stability in Asia and beyond.

Congressional approval of the U.S.-India civil nuclear agreement and the resulting legislation will provide both countries with new avenues through which to address a myriad of issues ranging from increasing the availability of electrical power - to the responsible use of nuclear materials. For India, the economic benefits of increased power production will manifest significantly in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, and in the expansion of infrastructure to support both existing and future socioeconomic programs that the world's largest democracy will need. Both countries will realize an invigoration of high-tech trade as well as opportunities to engage in new areas of commerce that will come about as a result of the exchange of ideas and concepts between two of the world's largest economies.

India also shares many other interests and common concerns with the United States, including the safety and security of their populations against the threat of terrorism. Since 9-11, the U.S. and India have exchanged valuable intelligence and undertaken joint initiatives to combat terrorism. Like the United States, India is all too familiar with the price that a free democratic society pays in order to remain so, and in India the U.S. has an ally in the "war on terror" that will not waiver. The collaborative efforts of the U.S. and India contribute to regional and global stability, and the increasing breadth and depth of U.S.- India military coordination, ongoing joint exercises, and plans for future operations are indicative of the convergence of those strategic concerns.

Also not to be lost sight of are the "bridge-building" opportunities that will flourish between the U.S. and India. The cultural exchanges between the peoples of one of the most ancient and glorious civilizations - and one of the youngest and progressive, ... will enrich both nations and will be the true basis for the strength of the U.S.- India relationship.

In closing, Congressman _____, I do sincerely hope that you will give thoughtful consideration to the merits of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, particularly the strong regulatory and oversight provisions that are mandated, and that in doing so you will ultimately act in favor of this landmark legislation. I look forward to hearing from you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter #5

Dear Honorable _____:

Congress is considering changing American legislation to allow the US to cooperate in the civilian nuclear arena with India. Some critics allege that this deal may weaken nuclear non-proliferation efforts. To the contrary:

-- Commitments: This deal actually strengthens non-proliferation efforts by formalizing India’s currently voluntary commitments regarding safeguards, non-diversion of technology, nuclear testing, and export controls.

-- Fissile Material: India has agreed to place nearly three-fourths of its hitherto un-safeguarded fissile material and facilities under international (IAEA) safeguards. Without this deal, India will be free to use the same material and facilities to make bombs. This deal actually reduces India’s bomb-making capacity.

-- NPT Status: India has also agreed to not ask for the same status as the five nuclear powers that are recognized by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). In fact, India has agreed to permanent safeguarding of its designated civilian facilities in contrast to the NPT-5. China, for instance, gets to buy American reactors without IAEA safeguards.

-- Stellar behavior: India has a stellar record in not proliferating nuclear technology. In 1978 India even spurned Libya’s offer to pay India’s $15 billion foreign debt in return for nuclear weapons. Similar requests from Iran and Iraq were also rebuffed.

-- Indian Restraint: India has the least volume of weapon related fissile material among the current nuclear powers. Tying Indo-US nuclear dealings to a cap on Indian fissile capabilities while American dealings with China are free of such fetters simply does not help American interests and will raise suspicions in India about American intentions.

-- Supplier State: This deal also brings India, a key potential nuclear supplier with mastery of nuclear fuel cycles (from mining to reprocessing), into the international fold and allows the US to influence India’s nuclear export decisions. As of July 2005, India had already taken the first steps to do its part in this deal: it harmonized its export control list with those of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and passed legislation that criminalizes unauthorized possession, export, transit and trans shipment of WMD (nuclear, chemical, biological, and missile) materials and technologies.

-- Invalid comparisons: Iran and North Korea cannot be compared to India because they both cheated on their obligations under the NPT while remaining signatories. Iran has a proven record of supporting terrorism and North Korea has a proven record of proliferating missiles and missile technology. India remained outside the NPT yet developed a modest nuclear arsenal for self-defense. It maintains a no first use doctrine and has never once threatened another state with the use of these weapons.

In this context, I request you to take note of the following:

-- Facilitating nuclear energy trade will help India move away from energy-centric relationships with rogue nations like Iran and Syria.

-- Freer nuclear energy supply to India will abate the shooting demand for fossil fuels sourced from the unstable Middle East region and stabilize energy costs for America.

-- If US companies are able to get even a small portion of India’s projected nuclear reactor trade estimated in the $100 billion region, it will generate thousands of high paying jobs.

-- By granting India the same access to cheap nuclear energy as has been granted to fellow Asian giant China, this deal will reduce the risk of an energy-based conflict in Asia.

-- Without an equitable nuclear arrangement, Indo-US ties will always be hobbled. Implementing this deal therefore will go a long way in cementing Indo-US ties

I urge you to support the legislation to allow US civilian nuclear commerce with India.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter #6

Dear Honorable _____:

1. The Nuclear Deal represents a turning point, a crossroad, in US foreign policy and relations comparable to Nixon-Kissinger reaching out to China; and possibly the historic Kennan doctrine of containing the Soviet Union. This indeed is a great opportunity to choose properly, to be wise or otherwise!

2. This is a win-win deal for mutual benefit and to invoke shared values in the cause of democracy, pluralism and the spread of freedom around the globe.

3. While the proposed civilian nuclear cooperation Agreement is beneficial to both countries, advantages for the US are greater and also of even greater import in the years to come as it gears up to China, which is projected to overtake the US in the course of the next few decades.

4. The Agreement will trigger the opening up of India’s massive and rapidly growing market for American business and industry as never before. 300 million consumers with purchasing power to buy anything and every thing they can lay their hands on is really staggering by any standard. American business and industry will have unhindered access to this oceanic and still growing market, where suppliers rule the roost for long years. Consumer awareness and activism are still in the nascent stage in India.

5. One of America’s long-standing grouses has been that it was deprived of its due share in India’s huge weapons market. This Agreement opens the flood gates to the US defense industry.

6. Sale of nuclear fuel and reactors to India is in itself a very lucrative business of unprecedented dimensions, especially because there are only a few suppliers. The alacrity with which Russia has come out to sell the fuel to Tarapur, the Canadian announcement of reviewing their earlier prohibition, and the French declaration that they are waiting for the Congressional nod are early indicators that the few suppliers in this niche market are getting ready to cash in.

7. Purchase of Boeing airplanes (the recent massive purchase by AIR INDIA) and other aviation supplies from the US will grow phenomenally.

8. Above all, the pressure on the global oil markets will be eased substantially. India (and China) is among the largest consumers of oil and other hydrocarbon fuels.

9. Contrary to the popular impression in the US and the West, the Agreement brings India into the non-proliferation fold via the back door. India refused to sign the NPT on principle. Yet, it conducted itself as though it was a member country. Her exemplary restraint and spotless non-proliferation record for over a quarter century are proofs enough. (The contrast with the dubious record of Pakistan and Dr. Khan’s network is stark indeed and must not be forgotten. The other established proliferators include China and North Korea).

10. India’s principled opposition to NPT and her acquisition of nuclear weapons led to the denial of access to nuclear energy technology from the West for over 30 years. Under the Agreement, India has openly committed itself to accept more than the obligations and rights of the nuclear powers. It is time India is given access to civilian nuclear and dual use technologies and processes.

11. India has agreed to "separate" civil and military facilities and to voluntarily place most of its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.

12. Therefore, India fully deserves to be treated as an exceptional case. Any comparison with Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, and yes, China, is ridiculous and contrary to all known facts.

13. India and the USA are "natural" allies/partners and should have been together from the beginning. For over a half-century they remained "estranged democracies." It is high time that this historical distortion is undone and the two multiethnic, multi-lingual, plural democracies of continental dimensions work together in the global war against international terrorism. Together the two great nations could become powerful forces for the spread of democracy and freedom, prosperity and global peace in the 21st century.

This is the time to stand up and be counted as forward-looking leaders marching in step with history! I look forward to your positive vote on this issue.

Sincerely

Sample Letter #7
[prepared by USINPAC]

Dear Honorable _____:

I am a constituent from your state, and as a member of USINPAC, an organization which promotes issues that are shaped by the emerging concerns of two million Indian Americans living in the United States, I respectfully urge you to support the civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the US and India. This historic agreement has the potential to transform US-India relations and this is why USINPAC has taken the lead in ensuring that Congress knows that this issue is of utmost importance to the Indian American community.

I strongly feel that this deal will greatly benefit America for the following reasons:

1. Great for American Businesses: Civilian nuclear cooperation will create several business opportunities in India for small, medium and large American companies. Two-way, bilateral trade Two-way, bilateral trade between the United States and India has increased by 221% over the past 13 years from 5.6 billion in 1990 to 18.03 billion in 2003 and is expected to grow substantially. The total amount of exports that will be generated by nuclear cooperation alone could amount to upwards of $25 billion over the next few years.

2. Keeping Energy Costs Down for Ordinary Americans: India does not have the domestic energy resources to sustain its rapidly growing economy, and consequently must meet its requirements through foreign energy resources. As India consumes more energy from the world’s static energy supply, the cost for energy for ordinary Americans will increase significantly. Civilian nuclear cooperation is the only option India and the US have to keep energy costs down for ordinary Americans. Currently, nuclear energy only comprises 3% of India’s energy consumption, and this number cannot increase substantially without civilian nuclear cooperation with the United States.

3. India, America’s Strongest Ally in the Region, is on the Verge of Energy Insecurity: India is already the sixth largest energy consumer in the world, but in order to maintain their strong economic growth, India’s energy consumption will need to increase by a staggering 4% in order to maintain an economic growth rate of 6-7%. Within 15 years, India will import 90% of their oil, largely from the Middle East. Within 25 years, India’s demand for electricity and coal will increase by 150% and 70%, respectively. Within 20 years, India’s natural gas consumption will be unable to be met through domestic resources and is projected to import 40% of its natural gas. Civilian nuclear cooperation is the only way India can stay energy secure.

4. Bringing India into the Nonproliferation Regime, even indirectly, strengthens the regime.
To date, India has produced a plan to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities much sooner than originally planned. 14 of its 22 facilities will now be under IAEA safeguards. India has also agree to allow more intrusive inspections under the Additional Protocol. India has a stellar record in not proliferating nuclear technology beyond its borders. It has now further strengthened its export control system to ensure that its nuclear technology and materials do not get into the wrong hands. If supported by the US Congress, the agreement reached by Prime Minister Singh and President Bush will bring India’s nuclear energy program into the international mainstream.

5. India will be a key country for Asian security and stability. India, with a population of more than one billion, has thrived in “one of the world’s tougher neighborhoods.” [The Economist] India is also positioned to become the world’s third largest economy. Civil nuclear cooperation as proposed by President Bush and Prime Minister Singh will ensure that it becomes a close ally of the United States in the region. This will be good for America, good for India, and good for you.

While we are clearly aware that this agreement cannot move forward without Congressional approval, USINPAC is hopeful that you will consider the views of our community as you begin to deliberate this very serious matter. We are also hopeful that you will take into account India's response to concerns raised by those who would oppose this agreement.

Again, I respectfully urge you to support civilian nuclear cooperation between the United States and India. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 571-722-4071 or dkapoor@usinpac.com.

Sincerely,

Sample Letter #8

Dear Honorable _____,

I, the undersigned American of Indian Heritage, strongly urge you and every other member of Congress and the Senate to support in a bipartisan manner the enabling legislation (House Bill HR4974 and \ Senate Bill S2429) introduced on March 16, 2006, that would permit implementation of the civilian nuclear technology initiative announced by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 18 2005. I respectfully submit that any major or minor amendments attached to the legislation can kill this landmark accomplishment which can be a cornerstone in enhancing and cementing U.S-India relations.

What is at stake is a strategic partnership between the United States and India for the 21st century. It would catalyze the two countries to advance on a sweeping array of converging national security interests: defeating terrorism and extremism, promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and achieving economic, energy, and environmental security.

But this strategic and mutually beneficial partnership will limp rather than gallop in the absence of a civilian nuclear technology agreement. The 'leap of faith' would, among other things, demonstrate to India political trust from the United States necessary to overcome the long-standing mutual suspicion harbored by the nay-sayers on both sides since the Cold War. The United States has been able to establish a civilian nuclear agreement with China, despite some strong differences of opinion with China on nonproliferation and strategic issues... Nuclear cooperation with India should be easier for the Congress to support because India deserves far more trust given its impeccable non-proliferation record and poses no outstanding security concerns for the United States. I would not be supporting the civilian nuclear technology initiative if there was any doubt that it would endanger the global non-proliferation goals of the United States, the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The security interests of the United States must be paramount in the implementing legislation. It must be realized that this initiative strengthens rather than weakens the international non-proliferation framework.

India has never violated the NPT and does not have a record of clandestine outward proliferation. It has behaved every bit as responsibly as the five nuclear-weapon states formally recognized by the NPT. Indeed the only reason India has a nuclear weapon arsenal is to act as a common minimum deterrent given its unstable and dangerous neighborhood. Moreover, the NPT text does not forbid sharing civilian nuclear technology with a non-party state like India. Indeed, the NPT requires such transfers to be under IAEA safeguards -- a condition that this bilateral agreement abides by. The pending enabling legislation will bring India inside the international non-proliferation framework which is logical given that a restriction of 30 years has failed to prevent India from developing a deterrent.

Some advantages of this agreement are:

*India's 14 identified civilian nuclear reactors and future civilian facilities would be placed for the first time permanently under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards to prevent diversion of imported nuclear assistance for military use. This would grant the IAEA access to facilities it has been denied to for the past 30 years. In the long term the entire civilian nuclear development will be subjected to IAEA scrutiny as older reactors are decommissioned and newer ones are built within the safeguards regime.

*India would adhere to an Additional Protocol with respect to its civilian facilities.

*India would continue its unilateral voluntary moratorium on testing which it has adhered to since 1998, despite domestic opposition to this policy.

*India would upgrade its controls on the export of nuclear or militarily sensitive items. Further, although it is not a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, it has already harmonized its control list with these regimes.

*India would work in tandem with the United States for a multilateral Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty to halt production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. And,

*The NSG would recognize a justified exception for India by consensus because of its scrupulous adherence to non-proliferation norms.

I would like to point out that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Peace prize winner, Mohammed El Baradei, was unerring in applauding the civilian nuclear technology initiative, including the plan for separating India's military and civilian facilities: "The agreement is an important step towards satisfying India's growing need for energy, including nuclear technology and fuel, as an engine for development... It would bring India closer as an important partner in the non-proliferation regime. It would be a milestone, timely for ongoing efforts to consolidate the non-proliferation regime, combat nuclear terrorism and strengthen nuclear safety."

The past US goal to force India to unilaterally and completely abandon its nuclear deterrent has already proved unrealistic given the proximity of two nuclear capable countries in its immediate vicinity. This unworkable idea should not become the basis of rejecting such an important deal that actually gets India to do more on the nonproliferation front than the past nonproliferation policies proposed by the opponents of the deal.

By legalising this strategic partnership, civilian nuclear cooperation would also open up avenues of cooperation in other respects. Both countries would be less vulnerable to oil or gas blackmail from rogue nations; greenhouse gas emissions would be slashed; sharing of intelligence to fight terrorism would be upgraded; military cooperation would be enhanced; economic growth which dampens extremism would be boosted by further opening up of India's markets to international trade and investment. The run-up to the deal has already encouraged to make one of its ports join the Container Security Initiative and seriously consider joining President Bush's Proliferation Security Initiative.

In conclusion, we think that to treat the Indo-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with suspicion or disdain would be to squander an opportunity on the international stage as momentous as President Nixon's opening to China. An America opening to India, it's largest supporter outside the US, is a wiser course of action. It's time to look towards the future and a US-India global partnership is the future.

Sincerely,