Noting further that a strong India will help deter war, the vets said they want “peace and security for and our freedom defended, and if we can do this by deterring war, which a strong India can help us do in this region, so much the better.”

Michael Wysong, director, National Security & Foreign Affairs for the VFW, said at the news conference, “The VFW wholeheartedly supports this agreement.  We view this strategic partnership with as a matter of national security.”

The ad was paid for by the Indian American Security Leadership Council, www.indianamericansecurityleadershipcouncil.org Ramesh V. Kapur, founder and president.  The recruitment of supporters, organizational, educational, and advocacy effort was conducted by Bonner & Associates, a Washington DC firm specializing in grassroots efforts. 

Wednesday, July 25, 2006 
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India - U.S. Nuclear Initiative Supporters

Veterans of Foreign Wars
2,400,000 members
8,000+ Posts throughout America
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the , with its Auxiliaries, includes 2.4 million members in over  8,000 Posts.  Founded by returning veterans, they created local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service.  Its mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans services, community service, national security and a strong national defense.

Reserve Officers Association
75,000 members
The Reserve Officers Association is open to all federally recognized commissioned officers and warrant officers and their spouses from the Armed Forces as well as the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  It was chartered by Congress to support and promote military policies that will provide adequate national security, such as fully funding the equipment and training requirements of the National Guard and Reserves.

American Military Society
157,848 Paid members     900,000 Supporters
Founded in 1983, the American Military Society (AMS) is one of the largest and most active military organizations in the   Members are active and retired military personnel from all branches of the Armed Forces.  AMS develops and supports activities which promote the general well-being of members; upholds and defends the Constitution; supports national defense; and preserves the memories and traditions of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces Top Enlisted Association
The Armed Forces Top Enlisted Association (AFTEA) is an alliance of senior non-commissioned officers who have joined in supporting all aspects of national security, with an emphasis, on the men and women who serve and who have served.  The AFTEA advocates a strong national defense that will protect the security of the .  They seek to educate the public and Members of Congress about issues that will affect the national security of the United States .

The Retired Enlisted Association
67,000 Members
Founded by two retired Air Force Master Sergeants in 1963, The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) has grown to represent some 67,000 members from all branches of the armed forces.  Their mission is to work on behalf of the retired non-commissioned officers to ensure the quality of life for uniformed services enlisted personnel and their families to maintain esprit de corps, dedication and patriotism and to continue their devotion and allegiance to God and Country.

Gold Star Wives of America
10,000 Members
Gold Star Wives of America Inc. is a non-profit membership organization chartered by the U.S. Congress as a unique organization.  Their vision is to work diligently and unselfishly in the interest of all who have been called upon in a very personal way to share in the “last full measure of devotion” to our county and mankind. To that end, they support legislation and regulations that would strengthen the national security of the and the protection of the Armed Forces.

Korean War Veterans
16,200 Members
The Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) is a non-profit veterans group whose mission is to help care for the veterans of the conflicts in Korea as well as working to ensure that the missing and fallen are not forgotten from the public memory.  It is with that in mind that they support a strong national defense to prevent additional conflicts as well as continuing their support for a free Korea  .

Reserve Enlisted Association
In November 2003, the Reserve Enlisted Association (REA) was created to be an advocate for the enlisted men and women of the United States Military Reserve Components in all branches of service. The REA seeks to advocate for enlisted reserve components in support of National Security and Homeland Defense, with an emphasis on the readiness and training to protect the United States .     

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 War veterans seek US Congress nod for N-deal

India Abroad July 19th 2006

 Veteran groups in the United States have come out in support of the implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal and urged the Congress to clear the legislation pending before it in this regard as the accord serves the future security of America.

"We know what it means to defend America; therefore we offer our strong support for the nuclear initiative and we want to thank Congress for taking up the pact and urge them to complete the work on the agreement," the veteran groups said.

The statement has been signed by several veteran groups like Veterans of Foreign Reserve Officers Association, Reserve Enlisted Association, Korean War Veterans, American Military Society, Armed Forces Top Enlisted Association, Gold Star Wives of America and Retired Enlisted Association.

America will be faced with new 'future military challenges' that could come from potential threats from China, Iran and North Korea, the groups said, adding that India, the world's largest democracy and a growing military and economic force, can help American security interests in a way no other nations in the area can.

'The nuclear deal will help solidify India's commitment to implement strong export controls, separate its civilian nuclear infrastructure from the weapons programme and place civilian facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards,' they said.

'The deal has long term strategic benefits for the US, the region and India. We urge Congress to complete work on the pact and lay the groundwork for increased security and cooperation with India because it is in America's future security interests to do so,' the groups observed.

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 Nuclear Agreement in Best Interests of US : Senator Cornyn

Hindustan Times June 24th 2006

Maintaining that the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal was in the best interests of America, leading US Senator John Cornyn has urged fellow lawmakers to support legislation on the agreement and boost the strategic relationship between the two nations.

"As is so often the case, we agree on the ultimate objective, to reduce proliferation of nuclear weapons, but we differ about the means. I support this particular agreement because I think it is in the best interests of the US," said Cornyn, a co-sponsor of the legislation in the Senate.

"It is an important step in our strategic relationship, in our growing friendship. It will be another way the US and India can work together to make the world a safer place and the US can demonstrate its goodwill by providing civilian nuclear technology to a country that needs the energy," he said on the floor of the Senate on Friday.

The Texas lawmaker described India as a friend of the US and a country with a good record for non-proliferation.

"(India) has demonstrated its responsibility and its willingness to work with peace-loving partners like the US in a way that looks to this alternative of civilian nuclear energy but at the same time makes sure that the dangers of proliferation are reduced to a minimum," he said.

Cornyn said that a lot of people would be watching to see the reaction of the US Congress to the agreement which would make the US partner India "for peaceful civilian use of nuclear power while avoiding the threat of proliferation and the possibility that terrorists might acquire a nuclear weapon or it might proliferate to some other irresponsible party and then endanger the US or allies."
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 Support for India Nuclear Pact Visible

By Judy Sarasohn 

Washington Post - July 31 2006, Page A23

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CQ WEEKLY – VANTAGE POINT
July 31, 2006 – Page 2085

Vets Group Gives Political Capital to India Nuke Treaty
By Shawn Zeller, CQ Staff
How do you get Congress to approve a nuclear technology treaty with India — a country that has yet to sign the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons?

Very creatively, it turns out. You begin with a Democratic Indian-American fundraiser who’s keen to promote trade between the and the world’s most populous democracy, add a former GOP congressional aide now in the grass-roots advocacy business, and then the pièce de résistance: the endorsement of one of the nation’s most venerable veterans’ groups, the 2.4 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Shortly after the VFW’s recruitment to the cause was announced, House members last week voted — by a 5-to-1 ratio — to waive the usual requirement that the United States sell nuclear technology only to countries that have signed the non-proliferation treaty, putting the deal on the fast track to approval.

At the center of the unusual strategy is Ramesh Kapur, a Massachusetts businessman who runs the Democratic National Committee’s outreach efforts in the Indian-American community. He’s been touting the deal since President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed it last March.

Kapur had been working with some big-time business supporters of the deal — but he also caught the attention of some detractors, who said he was promoting commercial alliances at the expense of national security interests.

That’s where Jack Bonner came in. Last spring, Kapur hired Bonner, an advocacy consultant and a onetime aide to the late GOP Sen. John Heinz of Pennsylvania . Bonner began talking to vets’ groups, arguing that is an important regional ally, a counterweight to and , and would allow monitoring of its civilian nuclear programs.

Bonner soon found an enthusiastic convert in VFW’s director of national security and foreign affairs, Michael Wysong. “Our stance addresses the national security aspect of the agreement,” he says. “We’re not at all like the special interests, like the business groups thinking about how much can we sell to .”

Kapur concurs — and indeed, insists — the VFW proved critical to winning over the House. “It made the difference because the veterans have no personal interest” in the nuclear treaty, he says. “People can look at me and say, ‘Yes, he’s Indian, that’s why he’s doing it.’ But they have no axe to grind.”

Activist Ramesh Kapur's strategic ploy to woo Democrats comes good; Deal is in National Interests, Vets Say

India Abroad - July 28th (By Aziz Haniffa)

 A coalition of eight national veterans groups have come out in strong support of the US-India civilian nuclear deal.
The groups, ranging from the 2.4 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, to the Korean War Veterans with its 16,200 members, the 75,000-member Reserve Officers Association and the 10,000-strong Gold Star Wives of America, have between them over 9,000 chapters and posts across the country, and are present in every Congressional district in the nation, making it collectively a very powerful voice.
The groups have taken out a full-page advertisement in Roll-Call, the bi-weekly newspaper that covers Congress exclusively, urging lawmakers to expeditiously approve the legislation so the deal can be implemented.
The untold story is that the ad is yet another instance of the community assuming a pro-active role in pushing the nuclear deal, using its enormous clout in ways the official machinery, headed by the Embassy, cannot. The ad was paid for by yet another Indian American group, the Indian American Security Leadership Council, created solely to push the nuclear deal through Congress.
It is headed by Democratic Party activist and fund-raiser Ramesh Kapur, who retained the Washington, DC-based lobbying firm of Bonner & Associates to help garner the support of the veterans’ organizations.
In the ad, the coalition argues that it supports the agreement as it serves the future security interests of America.
The ad, placed on the eve of the floor debate and vote in the House scheduled for this week, states ‘We know first hand what it means to defend America; therefore, we offer our strong support for the US and India nuclear initiative, and we want to thank Congress for taking up the pact, and urge them to complete their work on the agreement.’ It states that the coalition believes this agreement ‘will enhance our security in Asia’, and notes that ‘every veteran’s organization supports a strong national defense and understands that strong alliances with other democracies and like-minded nations promote peace.’ It says the US faces potential future threats ‘from a militarily aggressive China, from the potential of regional nuclear weapons falling into anti-American hands, to an Iranian or North Korean threat.
‘India, the world’s largest democracy and a growing military and economic force, can help American security interests in the region in a way no other nation in the area can. Because of history, size, location and commitment to democracy as well as its opposition to terrorism, India can be an important part of America’s security in the region.’
The nuclear deal, the ad says, will help solidify India’s commitment to implement strong export controls, separate its civilian nuclear infrastructure from the weapons programs, and place civilian facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
At a news conference to declare their support for the US-India civilian nuclear initiative and to unveil the coalition’s ad, Michael Wysong, director, national security and foreign fffairs for the VFW, said ‘The VFW wholeheartedly supports this agreement, and views this strategic partnership with India as a matter of national security.’
Kapur told India Abroad he had a strategic reason for soliciting the support of the veterans’ organizations. He said he believed their backing would prompt Democrats in both the House and Senate, who had reservations about the agreement, to vote yes because “as a Democrat, I know what our Achilles heel is — always national security — and here, if the veterans organizations are endorsing the deal and saying it’s important for national security reasons, this should prompt Democrats to do so too.
“It’s very strategic, and it’s to get all the Democrats to come along,” Kapur said. “For the Republicans, it’s the fear of God, and in my view, for the Democrats, it’s the fear of national security.”

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NEWS RELEASE  
NEW INTEREST GROUP URGES
U.S. INDIA NUKE AGREEMENT
BE IMMEDIATELY PASSED

SUPPORTERS HAVE SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN AMERICA

July 25th, 2006

Washington:  A newly formed bi-partisan group that has brought together eight national veterans groups, representing over 3 million veterans, 9,000 chapters and posts—with a significant presence in every congressional district in America—urged immediate passage of the US India nuclear agreement  because it is in the best future security interests of the United states.

Groups ranging from 107 year old, 2.4 million member, Veterans of foreign Wars (VFW) to the Gold Star Wives (representing wives and husbands of spouses who died in combat—protecting our nation), along with six other prominent groups (all of whom signed an ad in Roll Call—a newspaper widely read by Members of Congress and the news media).  View the ad at:  www.indianamericansecurityleadership.org/RollCallAd.pdf 
To date, this is the most significant show of support for passage of this agreement for national security reasons. 
The ad notes that India “can help American security interests in the region in a way no other nation can.”

 The ad states the belief of signers, representing millions of men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of America and have been willing to fight and risk their lives to defend America, that “our nation faces potential future threats from a militarily aggressive China, from the potential of regional nuclear weapons falling into anti-American hands, to an Iranian or north Korean nuclear threat.”  They also noted that they know “first hand what it means to defend.”
“Because of history, size, location and commitment to democracy as well as its opposition to terrorism, India can be an important part of America’s security in the region.”
The ad was paid for by the Indian American Security Leadership Council, www.indianamericansecurityleadershipcouncil.org Ramesh V. Kapur, founder and president.  The recruitment of supporters and the organizational, educational, and advocacy effort was conducted by Bonner & Associates, a Washington DC firm specializing in grassroots efforts.
The Indian American Security Leadership Council (IASLC), a bi-partisan organization, was created to encourage closer ties between India and America, and to promote the idea that America’s future security would be greatly enhanced by working closely with India. The IASLC believes that India, the world’s largest democracy with over half a century of electoral stability, is a growing military and economic force in the region, and can help safeguard American security in a way that no other country in the region can.  To that end, IASLC has retained Bonner & Associates to recruit groups representing millions of American veterans who can speak first hand on America’s security to urge Congress to support the pending Indian American nuclear agreement.

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