US lawmakers fault F16 plan for Pakistan

[laststeamtrain]

Source: Reuters

US lawmakers fault F16 plan for Pakistan
16 Sep 2008 19:02:43 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday sharply questioned a Bush administration plan to reallocate more than $250 million in military aid to Pakistan to help it pay for F-16 fighter aircraft upgrades designed to go after militants' sanctuaries near the Afghan border.

"Do we have flying al-Qaeda?," asked Rep. Gary Ackerman, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.

The rhetorical question from Ackerman, a New York Democrat, reflected doubts that the F-16, built by Lockheed Martin Corp was the most effective arm against al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in and around Pakistan's tribal lands.

Previously, the Bush administration had planned to use the military grants involved on surveillance planes and Cobra helicopters, said by some critics to be more effective.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N16415105.htm

[The Blue Flower]

1. Now that they have orders to shoot to kill our troops, hell yeah!

I don't have the link, but this morning I read that the Pakistani army now has orders to "shoot to kill" Americans who cross their border without the permission of the Pakistani government. Makes perfect sense that now we'd upgrade their F-16s to make it easier and more deadly.

[varun]

2. Pakistan has been fooling Bush since 9/11

the $10.5 billion that US has given Pakistan since 9/11 have been filling the coffers of ISI / Pakistani army and the Jihadis. The F-16s will be used against India and ultimately US forces.

[johan]

3. I dont

think so - Usually the Afghan border wont be heavily guarded but now it is with more checkpoints. That costs money to track and man terrorists coming over the border from Afghanistan.