The news on the financial crisis has kept a historic development off the front pages: on Wednesday, President Bush signed legislation that reverses three decades of US Policy by allowing US companies to sell civilian nuclear technology and supplies into the Indian market. The deal will allow India to more easily develop much-needed nuclear power stations, and put further safe-guards around its nuclear weapons (India has promised not to conduct any further nuclear weapons tests). It formally brings India into the world's nuclear club, and rewards it for responsible nuclear weapons development (unlike its neighbour Pakistan).
Bush did a great job in getting this through both Houses, and in convincing the Nuclear Suppliers Club.
No doubt there are risks in how Iran, Pakistan and China react to this but, on balance, its was the right thing to do.
With all the flak he's getting at the moment on other issues, Bush deserves to be congratulated for helping India and making it a stronger Western ally.
