U.S. nuclear regulator a policeman or salesman?

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission exists to police, not promote, the domestic nuclear industry -- but diplomatic cables show that it is sometimes used as a sales tool to help push American technology to foreign governments.

The cables, obtained by WikiLeaks and provided to Reuters by a third party, shed light on the way in which U.S. embassies have pulled in the NRC when lobbying for the purchase of equipment made by Westinghouse and other domestic manufacturers.

While the use of diplomats to further American commercial interests is nothing new, it is far less common for regulators to be acting in even the appearance of a commercial capacity, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest.

TVNL Comment: All of the "regulatory" agencies are there to promote and protect the industries that they are responsible for overseeing. Look at their members...they are all from or still working for the companies for which they have oversight. The FDA is a prime example. In America all you have to do is name something accordingly and the public trusts its actions.

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