New envoy urges US to bail out Pakistan

[MNReformer]

Source: The Boston Globe

10 Nov 2008 With Pakistan teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, Husain Haqqani made his pitch for a quick infusion of US cash... "All Pakistan is asking for is a bailout of $10 billion to fight terrorism" and get back on its feet, he told a packed audience recently at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank... After Sept. 11, 2001, the United States had given about $125 million per month to Pakistan. This summer, a House subcommittee uncovered evidence of graft in the more than $6 billion worth of US military aid that went to Musharraf's government. Haqqani is also seeking an additional $10 billion loan from the United States at a "Friends of Pakistan" summit in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 17. President-elect Barack Obama supports a plan to give Pakistan a $1.5 billion "bonus" if it remains a democratic state.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2008/11/... /

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. EXCUSE ME??? WTF? MORE MONEY WE DON'T HAVE? nt

[Trajan]

2. I would propose a deal ....

We will buy ALL of their nuclear weapons and processing facilities for 50 billion .....

[Amonester]

3. I bet it's all "ours" already...

uh... I mean... "cheney's" already...

[saigon68]

4. give Pakistan a $1.5 billion "bonus" if it remains a democratic state

Ass Clowns

[JDwho]

5. We've been giving them 125 mil. a month and they want a bailout...

(Not to mention the 6 billion of US military). This is requested by Haqqani, to aid them in the fight in Afghanistan. Yet, it is clearly stated that Haqqani is a precarious ally. I get that he is trying to hold things together right now; but, Haqqani has been an Islamic activist, a war correspondent, a savvy politician, a beloved professor, and an aide to two rival Pakistani prime ministers. In addition, he just may be aiding in the harboring of Bin Laden. That is, if he is actually in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I'm no economist, nor a genius,(and I'll never claim to be) so please tell me why "nearly bankrupt" America should give them a ten billion dollar loan, when we just borrowed billions from china!
Help me understand why we would do this?

[MNReformer]

7. It might have something to do with Obama's promise.

That he would find bin Laden.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

IOW, you give us bin Laden, we give you the money and you bring the Taliban under control.

[JDwho]

8. That sounds like a deal to me MNR.

[Kalyan]

6. liars!!!

"Pakistan is asking for is a bailout of $10 billion to fight terrorism"

LIES ... All Pakistan will do with these funds is to fund terrorism in Kashmir. The days of charity to Pakistan is long over. Obama should create a list of auditable rules. Taking my stab:

1. Pakistan to remove all terror camps in Kashmir. Pakistan will remove all offices of militant organizations - the list will be provided by India. Pakistan will jail all it's officials. Pakistan will hand over militants who are sentenced by Indian courts for terrorism charges. any India will provide a $5 bn soft loan to Pakistan for these actions.

2. Pakistan will receive a $5 bn soft loan from India if it sits across the table & resolves Kashmir in 2 years. If resolution on Kashmir is achieved in these 2 years, India will forgive the loan

3. Pakistan will drastically alter ISI - it's intelligence organization. Pakistan will make the operations of ISI in the Kashmir & NWFP areas transparent to the govt & external agencies. Pakistan will receive $2bn - $1bn from India & US each for this action

4. Pakistan will remain a democracy & on conduct of the elections at local district level, it will receive a $2 bn loan - $1 bn from India & US each

Obama should pursue 2 actions on Pakistan:
1. Push Pakistan to reform
2. Enlist India to share the cost & benefits for Pakistan's reform