India, US N-ties irreversible, says Bob Kerrey

The nuclear deal signals a permanent change in US-India ties. “This is not something that can be reversed...it marks a new era in our relations,” influential Democratic Party member and former Senator Bob Kerrey said here today.

The nuclear deal signals a permanent change in US-India ties. “This is not something that can be reversed…it marks a new era in our relations,” influential Democratic Party member and former Senator Bob Kerrey said here today.

“The criticism that the deal was too US-centric was not accurate. It is an effort to help India,” he said. “The Indian-American community was only rising in influence and this would have to be kept in mind.”

“US-India ties will improve significantly with Democratic control over the Congress and the Senate,” said Kerrey, former Nebraska Governor and a Senator for 12 years, as he dwelt on ‘India-US relations: A Congressional Perspective’ at a talk organised by PUKAR.

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On Iraq, he said the US did not have to occupy Iraq in order to fight terror. Calling for an early US pullout, Kerrey said the US would have to chart a “much different course” on Iraq in the days ahead. “I would like the President to say we will be out by July 1,” he said, referring to the next course of action on Iraq that President Bush is expected to announce soon.

Kerrey, who was a member of the 9/11 Commission, admitted to concerns about the impact of such a move and agreed that Iraq and Afghanistan were linked. But then, he pointed out, the support for continuing the US effort in Afghanistan was quite substantial, unlike when it came to Iraq.

He remarked that the Democrats were very concerned about the US lives being lost in Iraq. “Insurgents are targeting teachers, principals, policemen… people who are trying to restore and maintain democracy there,” he said.

Asked about Saddam Hussein’s execution, he said it made for an appalling scene. “He was one of the most ruthless dictators but we’ve made him into a hero,” he said.

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Security, trade, environment and foreign aid were among the areas Kerrey referred to as ones that would see a policy change in the era of a Democrat-controlled House and Senate. He did not anticipate any major change in policy towards India but said, “The Democrats might put pressure to change policies towards China.”

Pointing out that a Democrat-controlled Congress and Senate would mean a significant shift in policy in the days to come, Kerrey felt the focus would move from business and governance to more individual concerns like health and education.

“A Democrat Congress would also focus more sharply on climate change, energy, oceans and toxics,” he felt, saying there would be greater willingness to develop an international agenda in these areas.

Kerrey, president of the New School University, New York, had one regret though — turning 63 before he got a chance to visit India for the first time. “I feel that to be a considerable defect,” he said.