Remember what I wrote in the Seattle Times about the potential Indo-American alliance in view of the common concerns over China’s rise?

Secretary of State Rice is busy defending one of the key provisions that underlies the budding Indo-American alliance. The usual suspects were out criticizing the deal:

“I fear this deal could make this world less safe, not more safe,” Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., said.

Expressing concern, Barack Obama, D-Ill., noted that eight of India’s 22 nuclear plants would be off-limits to U.N. inspectors “and they will be producing large amounts of unclear material.”

And, not surprising anyone, Senator Kerry took up both sides of the issue again.

Still, two senior Democrats, Joseph Biden of Delaware and John Kerry of Massachusetts, signaled they were inclined to vote for the agreement.

“It is not the deal I would have negotiated personally,” Kerry said. “This clearly allows the continued building of weapons.”

But, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate said, “the perfect world is not in our hands.”

I guess this time he is voting for it after voting against it.

[Cross-posted in Guns and Butter Blog]