US-Vietnam nuke deal will likely allow enrichment

[mike r]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has told U.S. lawmakers that a nuclear cooperation deal with Vietnam is unlikely to include a coveted promise by the Hanoi government not to enrich uranium, congressional aides say. The United States had sought a no-enrichment pledge, which the State Department promotes as the "gold standard" for civilian nuclear cooperation accords. It would have been modeled on a deal last year in which the United Arab Emirates pledged, in return for U.S. nuclear equipment and reactors, not to enrich uranium or extract plutonium from used reactor fuel -- procedures that would provide material that could be used in a nuclear weapon...

A UAE-style deal with Vietnam could have been used by the United States to push other countries for similar commitments not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel. Many countries, however, balk at what they consider an infringement on sovereignty. Countries that have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have the right to enrich uranium for civilian use on their own soil under safeguards.

Two congressional aides familiar with the discussions said the Obama administration has concluded that it is unlikely to persuade Vietnam to agree to a UAE-style no-enrichment pledge. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. Another congressional aide, briefed by the administration, said the talks with Vietnam are in their final stages...

The United States and Vietnam signed an agreement in March meant to pave the way for U.S. companies to help build nuclear power plants. The countries are now negotiating a broader deal that would allow U.S. companies to enter Vietnam's nuclear power sector. Vietnamese officials say they also have signed nuclear energy cooperation agreements with Russia, China, France, South Korea, India and Argentina...

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Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2010-08-07-3395959451_x.htm

[saigon68]

1. Good thing we fought a War there

[customerserviceguy]

2. Good thing the Vietnamese

can honor a treaty they make with the US. :sarcasm:

[saigon68]

4. Nike makes most of their $ 275.00 shoes there

[Hawkowl]

3. McCain definitely would NOT have approved this

Just saying for all those who constantly say Obama is better than the alternative. Clearly not true in all cases.

[karynnj]

5. Why do you say that?

McCain (with John Kerry) was very interested in the 1990s in resolving the final issues and healing the wounds of Vietnam. They provided key support that allowed Clinton to re-establish relations with Vietnam. Recently, Clinton, Kerry and McCain spoke at an event honoring this event 15 years ago.

Please pardon the source, but here is an excellent 15 minute video of the three man's comments. Trust me, as a Kerry suppoter, that this particular piece has no bias or even snark. (I assume their motive might have been to hurt McCain with the right as he says nice things of both Clinton and Kerry)

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/McCain--Kerry--Vietnam--Normalization/2010/07/16/id/364858

From this you can see McCain is still happy with engaging with Vietnam - and he is always for nuclear. The excerpts of all three speech are very good - though Clinton looks older than even a few months ago when I saw a long clip of him speaking. (I was happy to see he looked better at his daughter's wedding.)