Bush's statement on India nuke deal raises concerns

A signing statement by President Bush issued in connection with the just-signed US-India civil nuclear cooperation law has raised concerns that Bush may try to circumvent some of Congress' intentions, lawmakers and analysts say. The statement was issued after he signed new legislation on Dec. 18 permitting US sales of nuclear fuel and reactors to India for the first time in 30 years. In the statement, Bush said his signature "does not constitute my adoption of the statements of policy [in the law] as US foreign policy." Also in responding to reports mandated by Congress, he would consider how releasing data requested by lawmakers might "impair foreign relations." In one of its most controversial directives, Congress stipulated in the law that presidents should report annually on India's cooperation in restraining Iran's nuclear program, which Bush has condemned as a major international threat. "With his recent signing statement, once again the president has shown he views Congress as a nuisance rather than an equal branch of government under the Constitution," complained Sen. Thomas Harkin (D-IA). It was "outrageous that the president has repeatedly stated the greatest threat to US national security is a nuclear Iran, yet explicitly rejects Congress' declaration that it shall be the official policy of the United States that India will not use its nuclear technology to help develop Iran's nuclear weapons arsenal," Harkin said in a press release. In the statement, Bush also said he considered as only "advisory" a congressional directive prohibiting nuclear transfers to India that conflict with guidelines of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which the United States helped establish years ago to restrain nuclear trade. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) said this shows Bush is "reserving the right to ignore the Nuclear Suppliers Group."