Capitol Hill talk is of reducing the deficit and trying to balance the budget, and the need to raise the debt ceiling because of the failure to do either of the previous. If it was a family budget, it would be a case of not enough money to pay the electric bill, but sending envelopes of cash over to the neighbor to pay for his landscaping.
The US is deferring payments of millions to Pakistan, suitcases of cash that would have come out of the American treasury for the purpose of training the Pakistani military, the same group that – it appears – turned a blind eye to the presence in their country of the world’s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden.
After the raid on bin Laden’s hideout-in-plain-sight, Pakistan kicked out US military advisors and engaged several other tactics in retribution for the covert mission conducted by the US without Pakistani knowledge or assistance.
The deferral – and in some cases cancelation – of payments to Pakistan is the latest in the series of tit-for-tat measures between the nervous allies in the fight against terrorism just-beyond and sometimes within the borders of that country.
Here is a number that begins with a capital-B: $2 billion. That is the annual US security and training assistant provided to Pakistan. The figure is money that comes from US taxpayers increasingly vocal in the manner in which their elected representatives are dealing with a continually burgeoning deficit, and the threat of default on the lack of a measure to raise the debt ceiling to allow continued borrowing to make payments similar to the $2 billion earmarked for Pakistani aid.
The payment deferrals will amount to some $800 million in military aid and equipment, which accounts for about a third of the bags of money being shipped to Pakistan. While it may sound as though the US is finally stiffening its resolve to hold Pakistan accountable, in truth the withdrawn or delayed payments are due in part to Pakistan’s ordered removal of US military advisors.
American officials want to send more guns and ammunition, troop armor, and equipment to deal with bombs and explosives. Pakistan refuses to accept the shipments. Weeks ago, they kicked out of their country the trainers that would have put the equipment to practical use. Other equipment is being held back because Pakistan refuses to issue visas to the US troops who would use the gear in training – items like radios and night-goggles.
For US military officials, it highlights a case of a foreign country whose significance as an ally creates the need for a significant assistance budget. For members of congress and the US Treasury, that same ally can be seen as one unwilling to cooperate and a more than significant component of the US budgetary difficulties.
Great article, I have been aware for many years of the aid we send to other countries when we cannot balance our own budget. It would be nice to have all our politicians play nice in the same sand box together, to work “together” “selflessly” for the improvement of the people who voted them into office. Many people need to pay closer attention to important happenings, ask questions, look for the truth, and stop relying on gossip, and one-sided media reporting as a sole means of information on anything. Truth and knowledge are powerful tools when you are going vote and support something that effects the lives of millions of Americans. Yes there are people out there that are lying to us just to benefit themselves!