US may boost development, military aid to Pakistan

[Muttocracy]

Source: Reuters


EXCLUSIVE-US may boost development, military aid to Pakistan
21 Mar 2009 00:28:00 GMT
Source: Reuters
* Development aid of about $450 million could be tripled

* Additional military funds may come with conditions

* Embraces approach backed by Biden, Lugar, Kerry

By Arshad Mohammed

WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - The Obama administration may triple development aid to Pakistan while also boosting military assistance to secure more help in fighting the insurgency in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said on Friday.

The official, who spoke on condition that he not be named because President Barack Obama has yet to unveil his fresh strategy on Afghanistan, said non-military assistance could rise to three times the current roughly $450 million a year.

Military aid, now running at $300 million a year, could also rise, although by a lesser amount, the official added, saying that conditions could be attached to the defense funds but not to the development money.

The steps aim to win greater Pakistani cooperation to address what is seen as a major weakness of the current U.S. approach in Afghanistan: the existence of safe havens in Pakistan from which insurgents launch attacks in Afghanistan.

...

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20525639.htm

[Old Michigander]

1. Nothing to Give

The US is broke. We have no money to give to the Paks or to anybody else.

[pleah]

2. Oh, fuck it, the war machine rolls on.

:mad:

[Muttocracy]

5. development money I understand, but I thought that was to be instead of defense $$

given how ineffective/counterproductive the Pakistan military has been :shrug:

[Idealism]

6. The problem is that the government of Pakistan is near bankrupt

The IMF loaned them $8 billion this past year to save their economy. They lost 3000 soldiers fighting their own war on the terrorists on top of billions spent on it. The military feels that what America wants from the Pakistani military is unreasonable. The US wants them to kill the Taliban off when the US couldn't do it in Afghanistan with superior equipment, training, weapons, and an infinite amount of money.

[winyanstaz]

3. I know of many American families that could use that money here at home.

How about we end the war mongering and nation building and spend that money here at home? Some where around 750 billion a year would be a good start to putting some toilets and showers in the tent cities and maybe some food in some hungry american taxpayers families bellies.
What planet are our leaders on that they cannot see the harm being done here at home with their pouring billions into wars?
This is beyond rediculious..this is evil.
What part of you have already stolen all our money and we have no more to give you to play war with don't you people get?
We are broke. We are beyond broke, we are in the beginnings of the Bush Depression which will make the last one look like a walk in the park.
Buy food with that money. Build shelters. Create jobs. Stop flushing our lives down the drain of wars and rebuilding other nations.
ENOUGH!!!!!!

[newfie11]

4. Enough already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We cannot afford this bullshit. There must be some big corporation wanting to make more billions while the US citizens foot the bill indefinitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SpartanDem]

7. Yeah enough

who cares about the Taliban's in roads in Pakistan this year god knows with them being a nuclear state that this is absolutely nothing to worry about. Oh that's right it's easier bury your head in the sand pretend that the problem is entirely made up.

[peace_to_world]

8. This won't help any of the govts

US needs to change its view about fighting Taliban.Why can't they think above military strategy?