Obama signs major Pakistan aid bill

[Turborama]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has signed a bill that gives $7 billion in aid to Pakistan over five years, a measure that the nuclear-armed U.S. ally's military had claimed was an intrusion into the nation's internal affairs.

The White House said the aid package signed Thursday provides $1.5 billion annually for economic and social programs as the Obama administration works to shore up Pakistan's return to civilian rule and to encourage it in the fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_pakistan_aid

---

Earlier story detailing Pakistan's concerns about this aid package: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4103324">US scrambles to save $7.5bn aid package for Pakistan

They have been too used to no strings attached aid from Busch. This is a tripling of the the civilian aid but will have yearly reviews in Congress.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=200156">The Kerry-Lugar Bill: details and conditions

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Enhanced_Partnership_with_Pakistan_Act_of_2009">Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009

[OHdem10]

1. Interesting how we can find billions to bribe our allies into supporting

us, but we are always to " broke " to help the American People
with Health Care.

I have not always been so cynical re foreign aide but the
last 8 years have had an unfavorable impact on my outlook.

[dflprincess]

2. Is it "deficit neutal"?

That seems to be his requirement for anything that might benefit us.

[Turborama]

3. AP have corrected their original article and they & Al jazeera English have added more info...

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan that the U.S.-ally's military criticized as American meddling in its internal affairs.

The measure provides $1.5 billion annually over five years for economic and social programs and comes as Pakistan faces a string of violent militant attacks and bombings as its military orchestrates an offensive into the Taliban heartland.

Same link for more info: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_pakistan_aid

---- --- ----

Also, Al Jazeera English have added more info to their article on this...

Obama signs Pakistan aid bill

=snip=

The US aid package to Pakistan is designed to fund projects in Pakistan that include schools and roads, agricultural development, energy generation, water resource management and the judicial system. However, the US congress still has to allot the funds set out in the bill, and the law must be renewed each year, subject to the White House declaring that "reasonable progress" is being made to meet the objectives of the aid.

=snip=

Nicholas Burns, a professor of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, said that the aid package was a "strong signal of support by the US to the people of Pakistan".

"It seems to me that the controversy over the bill within Pakistan is that some people are objecting to reporting requirements," he said.

"Any administration in a democratic country, like the US, when it spends money has to be able report back to congress on how the money was spent and who received it. In the past few years, some of the criticism from within Pakistan has been about the approach of the Bush administration do more on the economic side, and build up the capacity of the Pakistani people. This is exactly what the Obama administration has done with this programme."

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/10/20091015175035949145.html

[Romulox]

4. Detroit? nt

[cosmicone]

5. More money for terrorism against India .... n/t

[karynnj]

10. You are 100% wrong

The fact is that it is for the uses specified and for the first time thee is strict oversight. Ona of the "controversial" conditions is that Pakistan go after the terrorists - including those that target India.

It is funny you say this when some of Pakistani sources blame the "India lobby" for the conditions in the bill.

[CHIMO]

6. With friends like the US, Pakistan doesn't need enemies

As the Obama administration dithers over what to do for the best in Afghanistan, neighbouring Pakistan is paying an increasingly heavy price. Like a spate of previous Taliban attacks in recent days, today's mayhem in Lahore underscored fears that the principal consequence of Washington's Afghan paralysis, albeit unintended, is the further destabilisation of the Pakistani state.

Pakistanis might be forgiven for wondering whether, with friends like these in Washington, who needs enemies? The rumbling row over a $7.5bn, five-year US aid package is a case in point. Imperious conditions attached to the bill by a Congress reluctant to send more unaccounted billions "down a rat hole", as Democrat Howard Berman charmingly put it, were condemned as insulting and colonialist in Pakistan.

By linking the cash to tighter civilian control of Pakistan's military, Washington was trying, clumsily, to strengthen Asif Ali Zardari's government. But it achieved the exact opposite. The president was accused of failing to defend the country's sovereignty, much as he has failed to halt escalating American cross-border air raids, and the occasional covert ground incursion, on targets inside Pakistan.

After hurried consultations in Washington, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan's foreign minister, obtained an "explanatory document" from Congress this week that he said effectively waived some of the bill's more objectionable caveats. But this is unlikely to silence critics who draw on deep anti-American sentiment among the Pakistani public dating back to the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the launch of George Bush's "global war on terror".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/15/pakistan-washington

[laststeamtrain]

7. Inter Press Service: Obama Signs Controversial Aid Bill

Obama Signs Controversial Aid Bill
By Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (IPS) - After 10 days of raging controversy centred in Islamabad, U.S. President Barack Obama Thursday signed a major aid bill for Pakistan authorising some 7.5 billion dollars in non-military assistance for the increasingly beleaguered country over the next five years.

The bill, which will more than triple the current level of non-military aid the U.S. provides to Pakistan, had been designed as a dramatic show of support for the country whose full cooperation is seen as crucial to U.S. hopes of defeating the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan and destroying al Qaeda, whose leadership is believed to be based in Pakistan's rugged frontier region.

"This law is the tangible manifestation of broad support for Pakistan in the U.S., as evidenced by its bipartisan, bicameral, unanimous passage in Congress," the White House said, adding that Washington hoped to establish a "strategic partnership" with Islamabad "grounded in support for Pakistan's democratic institutions and the Pakistani people".

But, contrary to its intent, Congressional passage of the bill Oct. 5 unleashed a major political crisis in Pakistan itself where the opposition and the country's powerful army rejected several of the conditions written into the bill as violating the country's sovereignty and dignity, whipping up already-widespread anti-U.S. sentiment in the process.

In an extraordinary "joint explanatory statement" aimed at appeasing that sentiment and annexed to the bill before Obama signed it, the new law's two main Democratic sponsors, Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry and his House counterpart, Howard Berman, insisted that "the legislation does not seek in any way to compromise Pakistan's sovereignty, impinge on Pakistan's national security interests, or micromanage any aspect of Pakistani military or civilian operations."

"This whole thing backfired badly," rued one administration official, who asked not to be identified. "It's left a very sour taste in everyone's mouth, here and in Pakistan."

<more>

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48882

[denem]

8. Pakistan aid bill has explosive impact (Kerry-Lugar-Berman)

Source: Asia Times

WASHINGTON - After 10 days of raging controversy centered in Islamabad, United States President Barack Obama on Thursday signed a major aid bill for Pakistan authorizing some US$7.5 billion in non-military assistance for the increasingly beleaguered country over the next five years. (snip)

But, contrary to its intent, congressional passage of the bill on October 5 unleashed a major political crisis in Pakistan itself where the opposition and the country's powerful army rejected several of the conditions written into the bill as violating the country's sovereignty and dignity, whipping up already widespread anti-US sentiment in the process.

In an extraordinary "joint explanatory statement" aimed at appeasing that sentiment and annexed to the bill before Obama signed it, the new law's two main Democratic sponsors, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry and his House counterpart, Howard Berman, insisted that "the legislation does not seek in any way to compromise Pakistan's sovereignty, impinge on Pakistan's national security interests, or micro-manage any aspect of Pakistani military or civilian operations".

"This whole thing backfired badly," rued one administration official, who asked not to be identified. "It's left a very sour taste in everyone's mouth, here and in Pakistan."

Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KJ17Df01.html

---

The Pakistani Military is a fiercely nationalistic institution. Language from the executive summary of the Act includes:

Section 5 -
Authorizes FY2009-FY2013 appropriations for assistance to Pakistan under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. States that specified funds should be obligated for police reform and equipping. Prohibits funds from being made available to Pakistan unless the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report has been submitted to the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations and the House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs (Committees). Limits funds to Pakistan after FY2009 unless the President's Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan certifies to the Committees that assistance to Pakistan has made or is making substantial progress toward achieving U.S. assistance objectives. Authorizes the Secretary of State to waive such funding restrictions for reasons of U.S. national security. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) subject to an improving political and economic climate in Pakistan specified FY2014-FY2018 funds should be authorized for Pakistan; (2) security assistance should be provided in close coordination with the government of Pakistan and be geared toward bolstering counterinsurgency capabilities to defeat the Taliban-backed insurgency and deny popular support to al Qaeda and other Pakistan-based foreign terrorist organizations; and (3) the government of Pakistan should allocate a greater portion of its budget to education, health, and other priorities described in this section. Provides that funds should be used for projects to benefit the people of Pakistan, including projects that promote: (1) democratic governance, police reform, and anticorruption efforts; (2) judicial enhancement; (3) efforts against the narcotics trade; (4) economic freedom and growth; (5) investments in people, and particularly, women and children; (6) education and public health; and (7) regional development. Encourages the utilization of Pakistani firms and community and local nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan to provide such assistance. Authorizes the use of funds for operational and audit expenses. Sets forth notification and Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report and Government Accountability Office (GAO) reporting requirements. Directs the President to consult with the Committees regarding assistance and policy strategies not later than 15 days before obligating any assistance under this section.

Section 6 -
Limits certain military assistance (as of FY2010) and arms transfers (as of FY2012) to Pakistan until the Secretary certifies to the Committees that Pakistan's security forces: (1) are making concerted efforts to prevent al Qaeda and the Taliban and their associated groups from operating in, or basing attacks into Afghanistan from, Pakistan's territory; and (2) are not materially interfering in Pakistan's political or judicial processes. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such funding restrictions for reasons of U.S. national security. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Committees regarding the progress of Pakistan's security forces.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-962&tab=summary.

Many of the aims may be laudable but the reaction in Pakistan is best summarized by 'same old story' except the US had the arrogance to put it all in precisely written conditions this time.

[Alhena]

9. Major kegger at Pakistani Intelligence HQ tonight

[Turborama]

11. So, this thread has 3 more articles citing Pakistan's "rife anti-American sentiment". I blame Fox...

...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4103324">again.

Drone attacks being a given, I wouldn't be surprised in the least that Pakistan's "rife anti-Americanism", as described in http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/14/us-pakistan-aid-row">this recent article and the three above, is also fomented by Faux being broadcast all over the country. Not exactly the best way to 'win hearts and minds'.

Check out how many satellite and cable operators provide it there...

Pakistan

Cable Plus
Video City Cable Network
Cable Network www.hccnp.net.pk
Rousch Power Plant, www.rouschpak.com
City Cable TV Network
Sahar Cable
SM Cable Network
Chiniot Cable Network
Fauji Kabirwala Power Company Ltd
Depalpur Cable Communication,
MB Cable Network
T A Star Cable Network
S.S Cable Network
Five Star
Excel Cable Network
Global Satellite Cable Network
Fox Tel Network
Video Link
Music Zone International
Web Com (Pvt) Ltd
Ain Dice Satellite Cable Network
Nayatel ( Pvt) Ltd www.nayatel.com
Four Star Cable Network
Fox Tel Cable Network,
Candid Associates
Trivision Multi Channel
New Global Communication
Rex Cable Network
S.A Cable Network
Nizari Communication
Tahir Cable Network
Esquire Cable Network
Bismah Cable Network
Seven Friends Cable Network
Tracks Entertainment
Classic Cable Network
Global Cable Network
Luvis Cable Network
Paramount Cable Network
Sky Net Cable Ent Network
Home Entertainment ( K C S )
Star Cable Network
The Citi Communication Reg
WorldCALL Telecom Limited www.worldcall.com.pk
Rana Cable Network
City Cable Gulshan
Mehran Network (Pvt) Ltd
Show Time
Star Cable TV Network
Mian Cable Network
K+ Entertainment cable
New Digital Cable
Kashmir Cable Network
New Hollywood Cable System
WorldCALL Telecom Limited www.worldcall.com.pk
Rana Cable Network
City Cable Gulshan
Mehran Network (Pvt) Ltd
Show Time
Star Cable TV Network
Mian Cable Network
K+ Entertainment cable
New Digital Cable
Kashmir Cable Network
New Hollywood Cable System
WorldCall Telecom Limited www.worldcall.com.pk
Wateen Telecom www.wateeen.com
Al-Saba Cable
Four Star Cable Network
Video White
ABC Cable Network
O.K Video Centre & Cable
Sony Cable Network
Faisal Cable System
Max Cable Network
Sahar Cable Network
Simky Cable Network
Simky Cable Network
Sony Cable Network
5-Signals Battalian
Gandhara Cable Network
Mardan Cable
The View Cable Network
Star Cable

From: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184837,00.html

Interestingly, they don't mention Pakistan at all on this version of the site: http://origin2.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184837,00.html">Where in the World is FOX?