After all the sound and fury the deed is finally done. US President George W. Bush has signed the nuclear deal bill into US domestic law, preparing the way for the two nations to ink the 123 Agreement. Unquestionably, the chemistry between our Prime Minister and the US President was very helpful. George Bush was rightly impressed by the sincerity and honesty of purpose of Manmohan Singh. Both, towards the end of their tenures in office, have pushed the deal forward and given India a unique place in the nuclear world. India today is the only country in the world that has not signed the NPT and yet is able to engage in civil nuclear trade with other willing nations. And this is no mean achievement even for the so-called weakest Prime Minister of India.

Justifiably happy about the outcome, our Prime Minister was obviously carried away and hit a sixer when he said that the people of India loved Bush. Not many in USA like Bush, much less love him. It is said that Oriental people are emotional and tend to go overboard. For instance, President Asif Ali Zardari’s description of Sarah Palin, whom he met, as gorgeous, was unobjectionable and displayed good aesthetic taste. But Zardari’s desire to hug the US Vice-Presidential candidate was too passionate. What was Sarah Palin’s reaction? We do not know. But we do know that a cleric in Lahore has issued a fatwa against Zardari for his un-Islamic behaviour. Poor passionate Zardari.

... contd.