‘Next US Prez will think twice’

WASHINGTON: A prominent US daily has warned that if Indian politicians cannot find a way to resolve the deadlock over the India-US nuclear deal, the next US administration will think twice before trying anything like it.

“India is clearly destined for a greater role on the world stage, and there are sound reasons to hope that it will increasingly find itself in sync with the United States as its influence grows,” the Washington Post said Wednesday in an editorial titled: ‘Can India Say Yes?’ The Post noted: “But if New Delhi’s politicians cannot find a way to say yes to such a clearly advantageous agreement with a natural ally, the next US administration no doubt will think twice before trying anything like it.”

“The problem is that India’s old-style domestic politics lags behind its new international opportunities,” the Post said.

The Washington Times, suggested “top US officials and private analysts are already talking as if the agreement, intended to be a centre piece of president Bush’s second-term foreign policy agenda, has little chance of passing before he leaves office.”

However, the White House hoped there would be progress over what Bush considers a “very important agreement”. “Well, we’d like to see progress in India and that would certainly help our Congress, as well,” White House spokesperson Dana Perino told reporters.