Nuclear India and Pakistan

[Sisyphus]

President Bush recently visited both India and Pakistan to discuss a number of issues, including each nation's nuclear armaments. While in the past the U.S. position has been staunch opposition to either nuclear program, now Bush has declared the Indian program legitimate, and even made the two countries strategic partners in developing civilian nuclear programs. Pakistan, however, received no such commendation, being told essentially that they are not responsible enough to have a nuclear program.

 

Personally, I think he has a point. I trust India far more than Pakistan, based on their respective histories. But does that make this kind of thing a good idea? After all, both countries are ostensibly our "allies." Why are we allied with Pakistan if they can't be trusted and refuse to sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty? Are not rogue states with WMDs the kind of places we like to bomb? And if we are allied with Pakistan, why are we alienating them by condemning their program while helping their longtime rival, who are in fact the reason Pakistan thinks it needs nuclear weapons in the first place? Aren't we just destabilizing the region unnecessarily (not to mention China)? And what about Israel, which also has not signed the treaty, and also has nuclear weapons, and who we also call our ally? Your thoughts?

[budullewraagh]

i think it's a good deal if only for the mangoes