Aid to Pakistan in Tribal Areas Raises Concerns (750 Million by U.S.)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

The United States plans to pour $750 million of aid into Pakistan’s tribal areas over the next five years as part of a “hearts and minds” campaign to win over this lawless region from Qaeda and Taliban militants.

But even before the plan has been fully carried out, documents and officials involved in the planning are warning of the dangers of distributing so much money in an area so hostile that oversight is impossible, even by Pakistan’s own government, which faces rising threats from Islamic militants.

Who will be given the aid has quickly become one of the most contentious questions between local officials and American planners concerned that millions might fall into the wrong hands. The local political agents and tribal chiefs in this hinterland on the Afghan border have for years accommodated the very groups the American and Pakistani governments seek to drive out.

A closely scripted visit to the hospital here, used for a pilot project by the United States Agency for International Development, showed the challenges on full display. The one-story hospital here was virtually empty on a recent day.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/16/world/asia/16pakistan.html?hp

[truckerb1968]

1. How is this Country not broke?

[peacetalksforall]

2. Dick Cheney and George Bush didn't ask us to make any sacrifices,

but we are doing it - 750 million to make things easier on the oil and water barons of the world. The U.S. citizen-taxpayers just keep on giving and giving and giving. Care of our soldiers - nah. Funds to students - nah. Insurance for everyone - nah. Soaking it to us in gas prices while unheard of profits are made - nah. We sacrifice - some families more than others. No, they didn't ask, but we are doing it - for Exxon, for Chevron, for BP, for GE, for all the corporations who don't pay taxes, oursource, and register offshore to avoid U.S. employement laws and courts.

Paying 750 million to tribes people of Pakistan is a laugh because of its transparency - this is about security of line carrying oil and water.

[Fovea]

3. It's like the DoJ giving block grants to la cosa nostra.

Every day I seem to run into another bit of absurdist theater masquerading as policy.

Not Pirandello, not Ionesco, not even Vaclav Havel could write a play as illogical as this catastrophe.

It goes beyond Heywood's 'The play of the wether' because Zeus never shows up to resolve the actions of the vice Merry Report. This is the apotheosis of the sinister clown. It is Roman Saturnalia 365 days a month*.

And it claims to be our government.
I am not medicated enough, and I am heavily medicated.

*Thank you Firesign theater.

[ohio2007]

4. We gave "aid" to Fatah and look what happened

the "aid" was confiscated by Hamas