He will find it impossible to change the terms of the agreement without attracting serious criticism and charges of selling out to the US.

Growing discontent within the Congress with India's nuclear activities would complicate matters enormously for the advocates of the India-U.S. agreement. Rejection of the deal by the Congress will kill it.

The fast-breeder issue is potentially a deal-breaker; and unless differences are resolved on it, the entire agreement could collapse.

It is not clear how far the Russians will go in trying to persuade the U.S. to discuss such an arrangement. They, like the Chinese, adopted a weak and pusillanimously pro-U.S. stance at the IAEA. Unlike in September, when they abstained on a motion holding Iran 'non-compliant' with its obligations to the IAEA and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, on Feb. 4, they voted for a Western-sponsored anti-Iran resolution.

Washington's nonproliferation criteria are selective, discriminatory, and inconsistent. It uses nonproliferation as a weapon when that suits its short-term interests. When it doesn't, it allows nuclear weapons technologies to proliferate.

Washington's non-proliferation criteria are selective, discriminatory and inconsistent. It uses non-proliferation as a weapon when that suits its short-term interests. When it doesn't, it allows nuclear weapons technologies to proliferate.