U.S. Offers Pakistan Army $2 Billion Aid Package

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Even as the Obama administration moved to stop training and equipping Pakistani Army units that have killed civilians in the offensive against the Taliban, the United States said Friday that it planned increased aid for Pakistan’s military over the next five years.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made the announcement in Washington alongside the Pakistani foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, as leaders from both nations convened for a series of meetings.

The new aid package, totaling $2 billion, is meant to replace one that expired Oct. 1. It would complement $7.5 billion in aid that the United States has already pledged to Pakistan for civilian projects, some have which have been directed toward helping the nation recover from the damaging floods.

In announcing the aid, Mrs. Clinton did not discuss the administration’s moves to stop financing certain elements in the Pakistani Army that have killed unarmed prisoners and civilians.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/world/asia/23policy.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimespolitics

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. Consistant with standard American foreign policy.

If they don't do what you want then pay them off until the next time they don't do what you want. Pay them off again. Of course if you get tired of paying people then resort to killing them.

[msongs]

2. US public schools should start buying tanks n killing people - maybe they could get some $$b then n

[countrydad58]

4. Exactly!

I told a aide of my Blue Dog Congressman,that I was tired of hearing we need to tighten our Belts,when Billions of our money goes to Wall St, $700 Billion yearly for War Making, & giving Billionaires & Millionaires the Biggest Tax cut in history! What my Grandmother used to say if you complain about being poor show me!

[HCE SuiGeneris]

5. My first response was very similar.

The sacrificial lamb is... education for war. It is so wrong.

[cosmicone]

3. Aid to Pakistan is like feeding a rattlesnake.

This money will go to the Taliban via ISI and help kill more Americans. A lot of it will go towards military hardware only useful against India.