The Unclear Agenda

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The India-US nuclear deal still remains in limbo despite the Bush Administration's muscular support for the passage of the Bill in the US Congress. Actually, the posturing over the bill assumed a somewhat farcical nature this week as the Washington DC-based US-India Political Action Committee sent out a release. This is how the release began: "Today, during a private meeting with USINPAC, Chairman Henry Hyde of the House International Relations Committee announced his decision to support the US-India civil nuclear agreement. His support is critical to the successful passage of the deal. Chairman Hyde says he plans on scheduling the committee markup on or before June 21st. He stated that he is 'confident the bill will pass and is willing to push it through'." If this had been true, it would have provided major momentum to the process since Hyde, obviously, occupies a powerful position. Unfortunately, it wasn't.....