Bush admin handling deal inconsistently: US lawmaker

NUCLEAR TEST? The leak has created more roadblocks for the deal at the time of final approval.

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Washington DC: A private letter was sent from the State Department to the US Congress earlier this year in response to a series of 45 questions raised by lawmakers about the nuclear deal.

Prominent US lawmaker, Congressman Howard Berman has now released the private letter saying he wants the US Congress to consider all the facts before voting on the agreement.

The letter seems to assure lawmakers that the US will terminate the agreement if India conducts a nuclear test.

Experts say Congressman Berman's leak just days before the crucial Vienna meet is in response to the Bush administration's failure to follow through with promises made in private.

South Asia Expert, Walter Anderson says, "He or his staff aide did so to influence the debate in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group where there is a major concern among several countries that there be specific conditions that India does not test. The argument is that India is less likely to test if you had those conditions versus if you didn't have those conditions."

However, experts argue the nuclear agreement already contains those required conditions.

Another South Asia Expert, Ashley Tellis says, "I am perplexed that anyone would say there are inconsistencies. What does the US law require? It requires that in the event of a test, the US must have the right to terminate the agreement. The 123 agreement preserves that right."

That is the argument India and the US will try to sell in Vienna. If the Nuclear Suppliers' Group does approve the deal, the US congress will have three short weeks starting Monday to vote on it before the legislative calendar expires.

Public disclosure by the top American lawmaker has created more roadblocks for the nuclear agreement if and when it comes back to the US congress for a final approval. Top leadership, however, in both parties have indicated that they still favor the agreement and will vote to approve it.