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Subscribe to RSSPakistan's decision to convict a doctor who helped the U.S. track down Osama bin Laden was met with outrage in the U.S. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
WASHINGTON — A Senate panel expressed its outrage Thursday over Pakistan's conviction of a doctor who helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden, voting to cut aid to Islamabad by $33 million — $1 million for every year of the physician's 33-year sentence for high treason.
"It's arbitrary, but the hope is that Pakistan will realize we are serious," said Senator Richard Durbin after the unanimous 30-0 vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
"It's outrageous that they (the Pakistanis) would say a man who helped us find Osama bin Laden is a traitor," said Durbin, the Senate's number two Democrat.
Pakistan jails doctor who helped CIA find Osama bin Laden
The sentencing on Wednesday of Dr Shakil Afridi for 33 years on treason charges added to U.S. frustrations with Pakistan over what Washington sees as its reluctance to help combat Islamist militants fighting the Afghan government and the closure of supply routes to NATO troops in Afghanistan.
'A schizophrenic ally'
The punitive move came on top of deep reductions the Appropriations Committee already had made to President Barack Obama's budget request for Pakistan, a reflection of the growing congressional anger over its cooperation in combatting terrorism. The overall foreign aid budget for next year had slashed more than half of the proposed assistance and threatened further reductions if Islamabad failed to open the overland supply routes.
"We need Pakistan, Pakistan needs us, but we don't need Pakistan double-dealing and not seeing the justice in bringing Osama bin Laden to an end," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who pushed for the additional cut in aid.
Fuel tankers sit idle during Pakistan-US dispute over supply routes
He called Pakistan "a schizophrenic ally," helping the United States at one turn, but then aiding the Haqqani network which has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Americans. The group also has ties to al-Qaida and the Taliban.
It's been a tough year for Pakistan U.S. relations. Crucial NATO supply routes have been shuttered since November, there is tension over drone strikes and now the countries are at odds over the treason conviction of the Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. locate Osama Bin Laden.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the jailing of the doctor was "unjust and unwarranted" and vowed to continue to press the case with Islamabad. "The United States does not believe there is any basis for holding Dr. Afridi."
Afridi was accused of running a fake vaccination campaign, in which he collected DNA samples, that is believed to have helped the American intelligence agency track down bin Laden in a Pakistani town last year.
Aid workers become targets as Pakistan faces new crisis
The al-Qaida leader was killed in the town of Abbottabad a year ago in a unilateral U.S. special forces raid that heavily damaged ties between Islamabad and Washington. Since then, there have been growing calls in the U.S. Congress to cut off some or all of U.S. aid.
Senator John McCain, top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said lawmakers had agreed to withhold certain military aid for Pakistan until the defense secretary certifies that Pakistan is not detaining people like Afridi.
Muhammed Muheisen / AP
Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.
"All of us are outraged at the imprisonment and sentencing of some 33 years — virtually a death sentence — to the doctor in Pakistan who was instrumental ... in the removal of Osama bin Laden," McCain said, adding that Afridi was innocent of any wrongdoing. "That has frankly outraged all of us."
McCain criticizes Pakistan for jailing of doctor
The Senate Appropriations Committee's action docking Pakistan's aid came after a subcommittee earlier in the week slashed assistance to Islamabad -- and warned it would withhold even more cash if Pakistan does not reopen supply routes for NATO soldiers in neighboring Afghanistan.
Members of the committee complained about mafia-style extortion by Pakistan in seeking truck fees in exchange for opening the supply lines. The cost had been $250 per truck prior to the attack. Pakistan is now demanding $5,000 per truck. The United States has countered at $500.
Pakistan has been one of the leading recipients of U.S. foreign aid in recent years. Even after the cuts voted this week it still would receive about $1 billion in fiscal 2013, if the full Senate and House of Representatives approve. That figure includes $184 million for State Department operations and $800 million for foreign assistance. Counterinsurgency money for Pakistan would be limited to $50 million.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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WOW, 33 Million, out of the Billions we give them! That will teach em (EYE ROLL) How about a COMPLETE CUT OFF, Until released. We could better use the money here anyway.
Pakistan is a sovereign nation and is not obligated to cow tow to American demands. Cutting off aid is extortion. Maybe Pakistan would be more sensitive to American perspectives if we would quit using such bullying tactics to get our way?
No, extortion is when I make you give me YOUR money -it's not when I keep my money from you.
Why AM I giving you MY money, anyway?
No, extortion is demanding 5000 dollars for letting a truck drive through to supply troops.
Even better than 33 million, times that by how many years that Pakistan safe-housed that scum. With the news that China's economy is not doing so well, they won't be making up for our short fall of lollypop money. Pakistan could always go the route of being the new leader of growing poppies instead of Myramar/Bruma.
Shandril
Screw pakistan, They are a back-stabbing country who deserves nothing.
If Pakistan is such a sovereign nation they don't need our aid. And they don't deserve it.
Sandril, You are SENATE MATERIAL SURE.
Yes Shandril, poor Pakistan. Maybe the bullying tactics you see are a matter of distorted points of view? Possibly if you were not harbouring those who seek to destabilize Afghanistan these "tactics" would not be needed?
Oh well; I'm wasting my efforts trying to speak to your post. I've noticed you seem to post and run never staying long enough to answer to your biased posting. Sort of like well, the sneaking snakes you post in favor of; the terrorists that hide behind rocks, strike and slither off not being men enough to withstand reprisal.
Yeah....we should use the money that was cut from Pakistani aid and give it to OUR JOB
EXPORTERS"CREATORS" so that they can send it to their OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS like our KING OF THE ONE PERCENTERS, Adolph Romney does WITH HIS FORTUNE....Say you're the major of a city in the US - say the government gives you $1m a year to help with 'expenses' yet your overall yearlly expenses is around 100x that amount.
Now the Government, BOMBS your city with unmanned drones, without your consent - flies a covert team to catch a wanted man - again without you knowing - making you look like an idiot. than starts complaining about how you run your city - while driving their transport trucks constantly through your town.
all for less than 1% of your annual expenses - would you allow this to happen? looks like you need me (the mayor) more than I need you.
I don't like what Pakistan have done - but I can understand why they're being a pain in the ass.. food for thought.. +all Muslims (or mosts) have 1 thing in common, terrorist or not - they hate Israel and the US [politics - more than the nation]
BTW they raised the fee because they see we ARE getting out of Afghanistan. Kind a like price gouging. Can't wait for the monsoon season to start. Never thought that I would say this but, cut the aide for everything. and then let the Pakistan government reassess their own resources. For too long a time we are subsidizing governments around the world so they have the means to fund their nuclear weapons program, which in turn says they do not have to compromise with anyone. while their own people live in poverty. Charity starts at home.
Pakistan is not now and never has been an "an important ally in the war on terror" as it is inanely, routinely referred to as being.
It is a pariah with little, if any, regard for the welfare of other nations.
Gandhi knew that if you allowed Jinnah to get away with forming an Islamic nation out of the rubble of the British Empire's incompetent exit from India what you would get is what we got - an isolated, chauvinistic, dogmatic, male dominated totalitarian like state, where freedom was the last thing it cared about.
Unfortunately, Gandhi was a little bit too much about sweetness and light and allowed events to take their course with using his personal power and intelligence to affect them a tad too much. He should never have allowed Jinnah to be associated with him; never let him ride along on his coattails and then manipulate the situation while Gandhi was out of commission in British hands to undermine Gandhi's vision of an undivided India where both Hindus and Muslims lived together side by side each day getting to know and accept each other more and more - ultimately eliminating their factional differences.
Pakistan, like Afghanistan, doesn't understand the meaning of the words "fair and honest". Yet, we continue to act toward them as though they are going to suddenly grow up and be responsible members of the world community.
I wonder which part of if you will trust people a nation that has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a shade of a doubt that they embrace the principles of corruption and duplicity with gleeful delight and will practice their skills at these disciplines on anyone dumb enough to trust them, Washington doesn't get?
We should cut off all aid - military and humanitarian and spend the money we are truly wasting trying to win the hearts of people who enjoy hating us here at home where our own people need help - not giving it to backstabbing ingrates. Let their good friends in China come to their aid and see how kind China proves to be if they play the kind of tricks on China that they have on us.
This is a joke, why are we still giving them a dime. This cut is at best nothing more than a symbolic gesture that has no real impact and will simply be ignored by Pakistan. If the Pakistani government considers it to be treason to have helped get bin Laden that means that they are admitting the were willfully hiding him and considered keeping him hidden and alive in their national interests?!?! By convicting this man of treason the Pakistanis are finally admitting what anyone with a brain has known for a long time, the Pakistani government supports these terrorists and their actions. Too bad the idiots in the Obama administration have not woken up to this and cut off all aid to Pakistan. It is time to start treating Pakistan like the enemy they are instead of continuing with this ridiculous pretense that they are an ally in the war on terror. In addition, the Pakistanis should be given a choice between releasing this guy or being added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism with all of the financial and economic sanctions that go along with that designation.
Sovereign nation BS. They're a country that's for sale to the highest bidder, and if you accept the money you do the bidding. ALL aid to Pakistan should be cut off down to the last penny. It should have been done at the first hint that Bin Laden was being sheltered in that country. Let those lying, two-faced SOB's starve. Let them turn to Iran as a "friend" and see how they enjoy it.
Pakistan has a myriad of internal problems - alll this aid-cuttting is emotionallly satisfying but the U.S. must keep its eye on our own interests. THere is no simple solution there.
To JS in SD, you hit the nail right on the head, I could not have said it any better!
Not only should foreign aid be cut off to Pakistan, but the sanctions that were in place through 2001 should be reimposed. They are absolutely the worst nuclear proliferator on the planet. AQ Khan distributed nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and every other country willing to pay for it. AQ Khan is a national hero in Pakistan and the man who helped us find Bin Laden was just sentenced to 33 years in prison. The day when we wake up to a mushroom cloud from a nuclear weapon brought into our country by a terrorist, we will have our wonderful 'ally' Pakistan to thank for it.
Greg berry here posted #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19.
Something must be really wrong with that guy. My diagnosis is an acute case of ODS - it might even be terminal.
The Kornballs in Pakistan sentence Dr. Afridi who helped bring Osama down. Lets not forget who was in charge of bringing down the towers. Dr. Afridi should be rewarded for his bravery and common sense in helping USA bring Osama down. Pakistan continues to shoot themselves in the foot. If their selling crazy, we are all stocked up. The last straw will break the camels back. Pakistan, get your sh-t together. Either your in or out in fighting terrorism and you don't want to be out. believe me now.
@ Jaslam-4164063
You understand why Pakistan is being a pain?? They SUPPLY THE TERRORISTS to kill our soldiers, they denied having knowledge of Bin Laden when ISI was DIRECTLY hiding him as close as 2 miles from a military fort. Now they pull this crap sentencing probably one of the most important people in taking down the scum bag(may the fishes eat his insides).Instead of giving him praise for bringing down a mastermind that killed 2500+ people in our country, they give him almost a life term and you sympathize?? If you live in America, let me know so I can call DHS. They look like fools because they dug there own grave.
Pakistan insists on an appology? Pakistan needs to appologize for the Madrassas that inspired the Taliban to kill American soldiers. Pakistan needs to appologize for serving as a safe harbor to Islamic extremists, and known terrorists.
Pakistan is not a soveriegn nation until it can control its population of militants, but Pakistan has been training for Islamic Jihad in madrassas since the days of the Moghul empire, and is reluctant to confront it's adherents. The problem is with the snake fields within their borders that they have no control over.
Pakistan is a belligerent Pariah who feigns indignation when their duplicity is exposed. Their nation and Jihad culture are responsible for the terrorist cesspools that festered in Afghanistan. Their madrassas are a threat to humanity.
The Taliban may have pushed Russia to defeat, but no the deceitful tactics are exposed. It was Pakistan at war with Russia. Now we are in Afghanistan and the borders are the uncontrolled safe haven/supply routes for the insurgents to seek refuge and resupply. Pakistan was the problem all along.
Well, that's a start...
We should cut off all aid-for them hiding Bin, stop supporting the World with American tax payers money-we are broke. Putting this aid on a Chinese credit card is Nuts !
30-0 vote! So they finally do it for a Pakistani doctor, but they won't do it for us!
You may be getting to a better result congress, but your priorities are still @!$%#ed
I think we should pull all aide from Pakistan. Cut off all trade. They are not our Allie. They are an enemy of the United States. I believe Pakistan will launch a Nuclear Missile regardless of any monies given to them. They will probably attack a neighboring Muslem Country.
@Shandril
Seriously? You think giving them less money is bullying and extortion? That assumes we're somehow obliged to give them the money in the first place.
I suppose you think it was child abuse when your parents decreased your allowance.
It's about time, dagnabbit. But it still 'aint enough.
Cut off all foreign aid. Period. We have enough problems that we can spend that money on at home.
This is a joke!
When you give billions $33 million is nothing!
There are no austerity measures here!
OBL could have been dead in the first days of this war even before the U.S. sent troops into Afghanistan. But unfortunately, the U.S. politely informed the Pakistan government that we had launched a couple cruise missles at the home of OBL. Someone in the Pakistan government phoned OBL and he just barely escaped. He was out front in a truck when the missles hit and only one of his brothers died. Pakistan has been back-stabbing the U.S. since the very first day!!!
I realize that a lot of you maybe to young for this, but during the Cold War with Russia. The Communist closed down all access to Berlin. We came up with the Berlin Airlift. Everything that the Military and civilian people needed was airlifted in. We don't need Pakistan to supply our military. It wouldn't cost much to more to supply our troops this way than to pay extortion to Pakistan. Pakistan, you can't keep extorting us and harboring your enamies at the same time, thinking you can cause this war to go on to bilk us for all you can get. We have a saying here about burning your candle at both ends. I suggest that you have one of your english speaking people look into this saying and explain it to you in your own language.
Jaslam,
In your example, you forgot to add that in your so called "city", they are harboring and protecting the most wanted terrorist/criminal on the planet.
Its disgusting the US giving these billions to Pakistan (which is an obvious enemy of the USA), then cuts programs for people in the US. Imagine instead of those billions being flushed down the toilet in Pakistan, that it goes to feed the hungry, help the poor, rebuild infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc) in the US.
Heck, imagine if we did that with all foreign aid!
The United States thinks it can buy anything, everything and everyone. It's time to shift away from that mentality.
Pakistan doesn't need 1 red penny. They smile, shake hands, sign contracts and the minute the naive American leaves the room they are laughing uncontrollably all the way to the bank.
1 billion dollars - wow that's an expensive puppet!
WAAAAHHHH!! Crying for PAKISTAN! WAAAAGGHHHH!!!
Like anyone should every care about bullying a nation that is an enemy of freedom, exports terrorism, and constantly increases its nuclear arsenal. Not to mention green stamping the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden.
The US > Pakistan, so Pakistan can suck it. Maybe that's why they have no ally neighbors? Because it is a country of flaming a-holes.
Cutting $33 million is a start. Keep cutting, and keep using drones on the terrorists Pakistan refuses to deal with.
Take that one billion a year away from Pakistan and let AID judiciously invest it in the railway network used by the Northern Distribution Network.
That transportation improvement alone would dramatically the economics of those former Soviet satellites north of Afghanistan and provide a visible long lasting banh for our buck.
Why is the House Dominated GOP supporting giving more money to Pakistan, The House controls the purse strings, The Nerve of the GOP to go against Average Americans who don't support giving money to Pakistan. Vote those Bastards out of office
The only thing Pakistan deserves is a zippo burn..... I support conquering their backwards country and retaking every dime put into it by the traitors of the American government.
As many here say, 33 Million is not much - but it is a good beginning. And some of the general's wives will sorely miss this extra money.
Pakistan never has been nor ever will be a reliable partner. The Military is playing one power against the other, promising allegiance to the highest bidder and keeping none of their promises. They are not even Islamic, they follow their own version. Enabling those characters to wield their power relentlessly through our tax dollars is political pornography ! Enough already.
I wish some of these issues would appear on voting ballots--presidential because it's national--as referenda presented to the people. Like, should we give billions every year to Pakistan, a country that clearly despises the U.S. and backstabs at every opportunity--or should we use that money for Americans? Should we bail out banks so that they can fraudently seize homes, create fees, and flip the bird to Americans as a thanks a lot!?
More and more, I see a govt who doesn't give a darn what the American taxpayer thinks about anything--they live in their own world and make decisions based on their on self interest. Those people just make stuff up and seriously promote and repeat ideas as the truth. The sad thing is that people believe them.
CharlestheHammerhead, it would surprise me if you are not drafted by the
Obama administration for using your head (pun intended). You nailed it.
Hopefully the Paskistan problem will be addressed by the UN in September
or before then And as you say, the problem is with the snake fields within
these borders., Have a nice weekend.---TGIF Phyllis
Take their aid away for good. You can't trust them anyway.We have children who are lucky to get one meal a day during the summer only if enough groups can get together to finance it. Why are we giving to countries that hate us? Put that $33 million into summer food programs for OUR children. Use it to improve education for OUR children.
cutting off less than 1% of the aid? Big deal...cmon House....cut it all off.
Zero aid to Pakistan. And while you're at it, cut off the aid to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Libya as well. Let's stop funding these criminals.
cutting off less than 1% of the aid? Big deal...cmon House....cut it all off.
Zero aid to Pakistan. And while you're at it, cut off the aid to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Libya as well. Let's stop funding these criminals.
It's too bad we couldn't saddle up Seal Team 6 once again and send them in to rescue the good doctor
however, cutting off 33 million in aid to Pakistan is a pathetic gesture...let's stop ALL aid to Pakistan immediately
...and tell them to suck it
I think we are looking at this the wrong way. I think each state in the United States should apply for/demand foreign aid. I believe every state has folks from all the world residing in each one. Many are supported by the states' very fragile infrastructures.
We, Americans, could fulfill the societal obligation of carrying for the disadvantage, simply by spreading the money around within the US. It would relieve the pressure on already overstressed welfare, medical and supportive roles. We would actually see some benefit from the injection of funds. Anonymous foreign leaders would no longer be bleeding off their percentage of graft. (They might still here, but we do have some accountability.) And the foreign aid would actually show a benefit!
Forget about Pakistan, Afghanistan, and all the other 'stans, most of Africa, and any other number of wastelands with their hands out. Use foreign aid where it will actually do some good--right here at home!
Pakistan has not been, nor has ever been, a friend or ally. Only a fool would continue paying the bribery they demand. Either we cut the "international" foreign aid, or we vote out those who keep appropriating it. We have that ability, and we should use it.
Cut off all money. The packis will wake up real quick.
RE:
sez me u whacko
Why is the House Dominated GOP supporting giving more money to Pakistan, The House controls the purse strings, The Nerve of the GOP to go against Average Americans who don't support giving money to Pakistan. Vote those Bastards out of office
sez me u whacko it is not the GOP that wants to fill the pockets of Packistan, it President Obama. Get your facts straight. Cut all support to Packistan and let there govenment fold up. Who cares to help Pakistan, after hidding Bin Laden, not me nor the rest of the the Americain people.
A country,the U.S.A.,that is as deeply in debt as we are should not be giving,under any circumstances,money to any I repeat,any country ,while it is in as much debt as we are.This useless set of politicians, of both parties,should be reducing our debts,both foreign and internal. There is an old,but still valid,saying,charity begins at home.There is also another one .You can't buy friends.
This would be a nice start if the figure were 330 million or 3 BILLION in aid instead of a paltry (by Govco. standards) $33 million. It is painfully obvious we're kidding ourselves if we think Pakistan is our friend. There is NO WAY that Pakistani officials in the government and military weren't aware that U. bin Hidin' was camped out on their doorstep, and we should have suspended ALL foreign aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of the removal of this former cur from the civilized world !!
Shandril, be glad we do not cut off all aid to the extortionist,backward, back stabbing sand trap you call a country. I hope we cut off all monetary aid completely! It's not like we are getting our moneys worth anyway!
So what happens to that extra $33 million? Does one person get it or is it divided up evenly amongst all the congressmen?
Probably divided up amongst the shyster lobbyists that scavenge in Congress!
Muslims, while practicing one-way streets imagine that they are too smart. Here Pakis and Saudis are the worst Islamic religious barbarians.
While doing drone attacks or taking actions on terrorists in Pakistan, Pakis and their supporters scream that their nation is a “sovereign nation.”
When Pakis export their terrorists all over the world and these very terrorists indulge in terrorist actions even in the US, are we not a sovereign nation?
Saudis, who do not permit other religious places and Bibles, have exported the extremist Sunni Salaffi and Wahhabi versions of mosques all over with their oil price manipulated richness. Do the Saudi Islamic religious beasts have some special religion and special rules on earth?
Why are Muslims, especially who are mostly liabilities and curses in our nations, here instead of some Muslim nations?
Keep away from these mad Islamic religious Nazis.
Question shouldn't be how much foreign aid we send Pakistan but whether we maintain diplomatic relations with them. As GWB said, "those who harbor the evil-doers will suffer their fate.". I can't see how sending them a $1 billion every year, money we ourselves have to borrow from China or print out of thin air is consistent with that.
Aid to them needs to be zeroed out & we need to formally break diplomatic relations. We need to make it clear that with any further duplicitous acts we'll be sending drones and cruise missiles after their government leaders.
But even beyond that I think we need to question why we weren't more proactive in protecting the good doctor so we wouldn't find ourselves in such a sorry state of affairs. If we can't protect our friends better, soon we'll find ourselves without. The man & his family should have been extracted from Pakistan along with Seal Team 6 and given diplomatic asylum. That's how israel or some other country that has its act together would have done it!
If Mr. Obama wants to take credit for killing bin laden, let him take credit for this fiasco as well.
OH SURE - JUST CUT ALL AID TO PAKISTAN WITHOUT A THOUGHT....
Here's a thought: THEY HAVE NUKES - why doesn't anyone remember that?
Agreed - cut off all aid, BUT only AFTER the nukes are disabled. The last thing we or anyone else needs is those weapons being sold to to terrorists or falling into their hands by other means.... HOW could the nukes be disabled or removed (or at least the warheads)? Now, that's a good question.....
Don't stop their, cut off all aid to the World. How can this Nation give out anything when we are broke and putting this debt on a credit card. The GOP Tea NutBaggers in Congress will have the middle class Americans eating dog food so they can aid the World !
Pakistan is nowhere near our geo-strategic ally. However, saying that is the diplomatic way of saying "we don't want them to be allies with China or Russia." A poster above asks why it is that the Republican-dominated House is still supporting Pakistan by cutting off only $33m of aid. Well, it's because even the Republicans realize this fact.
China and Russia are both in the process of becoming more powerful, whereas the US is becoming relatively less powerful. If we are to maintain our dominant position, being allied with Israel alone is not going to cut it.
Byron post #1.57
Do you honestly believe that Russia and China WANT Pakistan as an ally. They have just as much to loss if not more by having an out of control Muslim state in their own backyard. Let’s not forget Muslim extremists have declared war on them too. As far as your fantasy about the United States becoming weaker….. ARE YOU KIDDING!!! There has never been nor is there now a more powerful nation on earth. I really wish people would open their eyes and see the overall picture of today’s world and stop referring back to the cold war to feed their paranoia.
Cut off all aid to them. If that still doesn't get Dr. Afridi released, impose the same type of sanctions we put on Iran.
If that still doesn't work, our next SEAL team raid should be on the prison where the good doctor is being held, with the objective of liberating him.
Question shouldn't be how much foreign aid we send Pakistan but whether we maintain diplomatic relations with them. As GWB said, "those who harbor the evil-doers will suffer their fate."
Now that's funny, considering how it was George W. Bush that declared Pakistan was our ally in the "War on Terror" and starting sending them military aid in 2002. From 2002 to 2011, we sent Pakistan $6B in foreign aid and $12B in military aid. Now in that time, with our miltary aid, they have:
1. Refused to control the free movement of Islamist militants across the border with Afghanistan. This is the single biggest reason that Bush enlisted their help in the first place.
2. The Pakistani government has spent a lot of time over the last 10 years not only tolerating, but actively inciting civilian protests against any aid to US military forces by Pakistan. So, they agree to help us, take our money and then inflame anti-US sentiment in their citizens.
3. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, indicted Pakistan's intelligence services for carrying out a covert war against the US in testimony to the Senate armed services committee.
4. When we finally got Osama bin Laden, he had been hiding out for at least 6 years in Pakistan, less than a mile from that country's military academy.
I agree. The question is not whether we should be reducing any foreign aid to Pakistan, but why we haven't declared war on the backstabbers! Hell, we declared war on Iraq for a helluva lot less than this!
Close the purse strings, no more money. None of the billions sent ever went to the people who needed it. Let's pack up our troops and equipment, level all military camps and get out. Let them stew in their own country making due with their own resources. We need the money and troops at home not where they're not wanted.
I do not blame anyone other than our corrupt politicians. Stop all foreign aid until America is solvent. I do not have the responsibility for other nations or their inhabitants. My taxes should not be going overseas until we have America solvent. Foreign aid is one of the best ways to get US dollars overseas and into private banking accounts.
This, I think, is the best solution for this issue. Do NOT give Pakistan any money, period, ever again. Let those idiots wallow in their stone-age mentality in their own cow dung.
How can any politician call these morons "allies"? Who does that needs to be removed from their post and from the gene pool.
I know what Reagan would do in this case.,
I don't think that selling arms to Iran, or giving 2,000,000 illegal immigrants amnesty is the answer we need right now.
Yes say what you will about the republican party but one thing I do know is the perasites of the world think twice before pulling the crap that's been taking place as of 3.8 year's or so!
Lord know's no amount of Democratic money will make them love us but they had better damn well Republican respect us. Amen
I'm glad you know because I don't have a clue. He could withdraw like he did when the barracks were bombed. He could fire them? He could negotiate like he did with the Russians.
@maddy, you're delusional. We're here because of Republicans. You can't be telling us that you've forgotten that this country has been housing bin Laden. This problem is because this president knew them to be liars and took action. Sorry but Republicans beat their chests but too often don't use their heads.
He'd go to the movies for inspiration - probably Gunga Din, if I'm not mistaken.
You might find it interesting Maddy, but Dems have been 'wartime' presidents as much as Pubs. Dems were sitting Presidents at the beginning of all the major modern wars (except those in the Middle East).
You have Wilson which entered into WWI, FDR WW2, Truman who concluded WW2, beginning Korean War. Then there was Kennedy and LBJ beginning Vietnam. Clinton was involved in Kosovo and other operations.
Only like 12 Presidents in history were not involved in any war during their terms in office. Twelve....
The ol 'Dems are weak on war' stereotype is just simply not true. If you believe that, you're just falling for the same ol' rhetoric and propaganda.
Shuklack: On the contra ShukLack, I don't remember President Obama starting any war!
Correct, which is why I said: "Dems were sitting Presidents at the beginning of all the major modern wars (except those in the Middle East)."
We've indeed entered into a new era - but by no means is the old addage that Democrats are a bunch of lambs an accurate stereotype.
@maddy Did you just start paying attention recently? Yeah, people wouldn't mess with us when we have a Republican president... ask 3,000 World Trade Center inhabitants about that.
And what's this about Democratic money? Are you not aware that we have been giving Pakistan money for years, with Republicans and Democrats in office?
It was a Republican president who said he was no longer concerned about bin Laden. It was a Democrat who said he was, and refocused our efforts into finding him, and made the call to send the SEALs into Pakistan, whether it pissed Pakistan off or not, and kill the guy. This was with only about a 50/50 estimate of whether or not the guy was actually there. They wouldn't know until they entered the building. He told them to go for it. What was that you were saying again?
@dale That's not contrary to what Shuklack said. He/she said that Democrats were sitting presidents at the beginning of all the major modern wars, except those in the Middle East. He/she didn't say every Democrat had started a war.
All this World aid should be going to our debt, F - these Country's that hate us. This Nation should come first !
Really? How would you know what Reagan would do? Reagan armed the Mujahadeen under Osama bin Laden quite naively. He was quite frank about the Soviet aggressions, but all this other stuff that he did has gotten us into trouble, big time. And I think he would agree with this also.
Strangely enough, our 21st century tough postering under Republican administrations has been stupid and offensive to those we are already allies with. Yet when it comes to to true and warrented aggression, I see nothing but bribes and pandering especially with Pakistan whom we should have kept at arm's length. We only invaded Iraq, wasting money, lives and valor just to make ourselves look good when we should have concentrated more on Afghanistan all along. Pakistan is just along for the ride and funds while this Afghan conflict continues to rumble. Jailing that doctor is no better than the inbred North Korean leader threatening a nuclear test just to get a little bit more to a corrupt regime.
I am actually satisfied watching Ms. Hillary call them to task. I love the Pakistani people, but enough is enough. We're onto them and I think we should be outta there...big time. Let's put the us back in the US.
Dale, try to remember the war on Libya, which Obama started without Congressional approval. Just because you never heard of it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist....
We all know what Reagan would do. Sell them weapons.
Yes say what you will about the republican party but one thing I do know is the perasites of the world think twice before pulling the crap that's been taking place as of 3.8 year's or so!
Oh yeah, the Republican party did so f'in good! You make me laugh!
Let's start with the war in Afghanistan. They actually started pretty good! But, with the smell of victory in the air, they had to stop prosecuting the war to go to war with Iraq.
We went to war with Iraq because:
1. They were involved with the bombing of the twin towers - well, no, they had nothing to do with that.
2. They supported Al Quaeda - well, no, turns out Al Quaeda didn't have a presence in Iraq. After we invaded Iraq, however, the populace felt threatened, internal security was weakened by the dissolution of the armed forces of Iraq and Al Quaeda established a firm foothold in Iraq.
3. Iraq had WMD's and threatened peace in the region - well, no, they didn't. After 10 years, 10 years!! of searching, no WMD's were found other than rotting stockpiles that were 20+ years old.
So, the end result is that we have been fighting for 10 years in two countries that are smaller than some states in the US. Let me remind you that WWII, which was a global war, only took 6 years to finish!
Yeah, them Republicans sure scared the crap out of the rest of the world, didn't they? It sure looked like the "The Three Stooges Go to War!" (George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld).
Never, Ever trust the US GOVT. Its been proven so many times. SUCKERS.
Do you have a lot of food, GUNS AND AMMO in that underground BUNKER you have at your house?
I mean, YOU would need all that for when the GUBMINT MEN come and try to get you some night.....right????
The airheads in Congress are toxic, did anyone tell them we are Broke ?
Pay off our debt before we do anything !
I wonder if Team Obama is going to bring this up in his Feature film about Bin Ladin, (Made with leaked classified military documents) this fall?
I am Spam, Spam Iam; won't you shut up Spam Iam? All you are is an anti-Obama spammer who says anything to prove you have a vote (Maybe?) but not a clue.
Leaked classified documents? Lol, what rubbish. The information provided to prospective film makers is the same information that's available to the Press.
Hillary the bag cash lady needs to add a little more Bribe cash to get this HERO out of PRISION, BEFORE THE ELECTION. Its GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.
The amount of posts you have in a row indicate a certain amount of psychological instability and thus diminishes the legitimacy of your comments.
In other words: it's hard to take anything you say seriously because you're spamming.
Not spamming at all, This is my speeling adn typeing practice fore the davy. I have many thosurg t of the problems related to the problem at hand. That is why I types so many comenets. I actually, KIILL THE STORIES as MSNBC can't stand them. I am not one of the left wing liberal sheep.
completely incoherent.
Sheep come in all forms, including the RW variety.
Let's just ban Greg Barry for his inane rants rather than just collapsing individual psychotic posts.........I've gone the ignore route and it should not bother me but the clutter on this board with such biased and hateful drivel is ridiculous
Hillary gets more from Jewish lobby, Saudis and oil companies!
forget about hillary jokes for once. seriously we currently provide aid in the
amount of ONE BILLION annually to pakistan. $33 million may sound like
a lot but it is nothing in the big picture. it is the equivalent of giving your
teenage son or daughter a hundred dollars a month allowance, catching
them drinking underage and then reducing their allowance by THIRTY
THREE CENTS !!!
compared to one billion that is how pitiful a slap on the wrist if that thirty three million is compared to the one billion. imagine for a moment as well if we took the 1.3 trillion spent on just iraq and pakistan as well as the financial gifts we give out to nations such as pakistan that bump it to over 2 trillion, imagine how many of our children we could put through college or how many roads and bridges we could replace with all that wasted money,
OUR MONEY!
Can we nuke em?
Greg--gather your thoughts (fragmented though they are), make one post, and then go do something constructive. You're not prescient, must annoying.
Maybe ROMNEY will have to send in Seal Team 6, to get this guy out of prision in January. Remember how Reagan got our hostages out of Iran on the very hour of his innaugration? Reagan PROMISED Iran a good BOMBING if they were still in Iran. Suprise suprise, They were all flown out to Germany while Regan was taking his oath of office.
Honey, for some reason I don't think Romney has a clue beyond hedging deals, making opening ceremonies and keeping his shirt and tie clean. Sorry.
Greg, if you actually read or paid attention to the history of Reagan and the Iranian hostages, then you would know that the RNC had everything to do with the timing of the freeing of hostages. Or what a normal red-blooded American would call treason against the US. He bribed them, why do you think it was called Iran-Contra? Get a clue and break away from you common factions, see through your blurry sight!
A little correction pertaining to historical events....the hostages were released on the day Carter's term ended and had nothing to do with Reagan's efforts. This act was perceived as a demonstration against Carter's policy of handling the deposed Shah. The terms were drawn up for the hostages release via the "Algiers Accords" and signed on Jan 19th, 1981, the hostages were released the next day.
Party affiliation had nothing to do with the situation.
It is a known historical fact that Reagan made a deal with Iran to hold the hostages until the day they were released.
Their really is a term for leaders like OBAMA "ONE TERM"
MSNBC, "Team Obama's Spin machine" Will have this story pulled by 9:00AM and it SHOULD run until the Good Docter is released.
As opposed to the Team Bush Spin Machine, which funneled tens of billions of American taxpayer dollars to these creeps' Swiss bank accounts...? It's SOOOOO Reich Wing for you to pretend that this all started in January 2009 when a Black man was inaugurated President.
Just GTFO. Afghanistan is a lost cause.
All this theatrical outrage and posturing! "A million dollars for each year ..." What complete nonsense! It only amounts to a 3.2% cut. Do those senators actually think that the American people are gullible enough to believe that this has any real significance?
A disgusting reminder of politicians' contempt for ordinary citizens!
They need to cut them off completely and turn over all terrorists. If not, threaten to turn them into an ashtray...
Here is the BEST solution to the DOCTOR HOSTAGE situation. Lets conduct a PRISONER EXCHANGE. We trade the GOOD DOCTOR who Got Bin Ladin for us, For a bunch of US TRAITORS, The ENTIRE US CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT and his Cabinet in exchange for the good doctor. WE WOULD SAVE BILLIONS in waste , fraud and Corruption, while these FUTURE LOBBYISTS set in Pakistan for 33 Years. We could even afford to increase Pakistans welfare payments. I think they would go for it.
Trade one doctor for two-thirds of the United States government? Not even Pakistan is stupid enough to fall for that deal.
Here, here...denver bill
I like Denver Bill's answer.
Except for some back door story on Team Obama news, FOX is DEMANDING that Your President make a Statement NOW in support of the doctors release. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK FOX NEWS and especially BILL O. (PATRIOT-AMERICAN-LEADER)
Yea, because Fox demands it....whatever.
Im sorry Tammy, It was CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, that is demading it! LOL. RIGHT. The LEFT WING MEDIA demainding anything other then FREE. LOL.
as if Fox had any credibility.....They sure are full of themselves, thinking they can make demands on OUR President. I'm sure they'll try to take credit if OUR President makes a statement in support of the doctors release, even though OUR Secretary of State has already made a statement to that effect. The funny thing is sheep like yourself will believe Faux, and continue to get your speaking points from the most unethical "news" network in the history of the United States.
OUR President is smart enough that he doesn't need any advice from those idiots.
33 Million, OH NO, It like punishing, Warren (Bank Robber) Buffett with a fine of 20 dollars for insider trading, corruption and bribery.
Hey greg, stop bashing Warren, ok. He is a good republican. straight to the bone.
Warren Bank Robber Buffet is a Flaming Democrat, CROOK, Liar and spends millions bribing Democrats. He is now on a quest to buy, newspapers in conserative states so he can brain wash them also. He owns the Buffalo Evening news, Washington Post and many other forms of media, HIS REAL GOAL is to buy FOX, And make Political changes on the national level. REPUBLICAN NOT even close.
Is this the same group of Senate Pigs that suggested that all americans get 100 dollars a few years ago to augment the high price of GASOLINE? Mindless TWITS = US CONGRESS
You right-wing mindless Pakistan loving S.O.B. We didn't hear the House doing a damn thing about slowing down the cash flow to the Pakis did we?
Greg that was your great GWB who gave out 300.00 per person or 600 per family as a token of his great charity. What a great Pres he was...less then a dollar a day rebates. Why I can see why so many think of him as their savior. (insert eye-roll here)
The answer to Pakistan and Afghanistan is simple...they want to be sovereign nations so let them be sovereign on their own with no aid whatsoever. Personally Id prefer if we just nuked the region.
Just announced, Obama and Congress have agreed to cut all sales of PORK to Pakistan. That will show em. No more McRibs for them.
lmao
Hey Greg....Get a life, man. Nothing better to do that constantly start new posts? Make your point in one or two posts.
So we are funding the people who support terrorists that kill Americans, but in this country, a citizen can now be arrested and held indefinitely without charge or trial? WTF?
The congressional lecturer signed it. Make sure it doesn't pass again it is coming up for a new vote. But if you are a reporter it was declared unconstitutional in NY federal court. I don't know if that protects the rest of us though.Your congressmen and senators contact information is online and most have e-mail or facebook pages.
" Cutting off aid is extortion" From a former POST above, EXTORTION, ITS What your Govt is great at. Its done all of the time. Its time to do it again. CUT OFF ALL MONEY TO PAKISTAN, until this Great world hero is released. Where do these liberals come from?
Think Prisoner exchange, HERO DOCTOR in exchange for our ENTIRE GOVT. Its a win win situation.
Prisoner exchange, The GOOD DOCTOR in exchange for some of our Traitors, Nancy Polositi, Harry Reid and many others need to go.
"Pakistan has been one of the leading recipients of U.S. foreign aid in recent years. Even after the cuts voted this week it still would receive about $1 billion in fiscal 2013, if the full Senate and House of Representatives approve" America,Wake up!!!!! When is this kind of madness going to stop?????? DC has lost it's way. Vote ALL OF THEM OUT{congress and senate} in November!!! This is YOUR TAX dollars America hard at work!!!
Develop the northern supply routes in a major program closely monitored by AID; meanwhile giving the Pakkis the aid such a worthless and unreliable partner deserves - four fifths of five eighths of phuck all. What is it that Congress does not understand about aid totalling phuck all?
righn on !
It's time to stop all aid to Pakistan..
It's time to stop all aid to the World, we are broke, aid the U.S.A.
You're speaking to deaf ears...They don't hear US anymore...We need a real Congress>than the one that we have, that won't bicker about every nitpickey thing in God's creation!!
To send a real message to Pakistan, tell them we are removing X dollars of aid, and instead redirecting it to India (an actual ally with more interests in common.)
Unfortunately, the moderates in Pakistan will be hurt by the reduction in aid, making it easier for radicals to increase their power there.
Wow, Congress actually did something for the AMERICAN PEOPLE who pay their salaries.
Now if they would just cut every last dime that OBAMA has promised Afghanistan, THEN they would start to show some balls, instead of bowing and scraping to the liberal social Dems. and the worthless U.N.
Oh congrees is real good at doing some things every morning the House is in session they spend around 2 hours making 5 minute speeches alternating between dems and repubs. They praise coaches, talk about kids from their states that won prizes, talk about bike trails etc. And they sometimes even agree and praise the same coaches. The only thing they don't do is run the dang country.
I hope US will not spare effort to secure release of good doctor. In mean time, how about cutting off aid by $33 million every year for next 33 years? Actually, why do you people bother helping Pakis who are not your good or honest friends, let alone and ally?
Good question Tim and I can only guess it's the old idea of the late scare of spreading communism our government can't shake. That when the begger knock's at your door better to help them before they knock on your enemie's door.
The bad thing is our stupid government didn't have to say anything about him. That is a horrible way to treat someone who helps. It seems to me for every success we have Obama has to give the bad guys a little tidbit. In this case the doctor and a helicopter full of Seals.
I honestly think Pakistan was afraid of what we would do in the time after 9/11. It was US policy to treat terrorists and those who harbored the terrorists the same. It was clear they harbored Bin @!$%# all along. We fly all over their country with drones and kill whomever we deem are the terrorists. Yeah they got nukes. We have a lot more and nukes are traceable. If a Pakistani nuke should just happen to fall into the hands of a terrorist and it was used against the west, then nuclear annihilation is in their future.
NEWS FLASH~ We don't need Pakistan ... Pakistan is not skizsophrenic ...they do not need medication or US dollars or a slap on the hand for 33 years ... LOL ... they are liars, they hid and supported Bin Laden, they are just like him, terrorists who hate us and are working with others like themselves to harm us WITH OUR US MONEY Hillary :) ... all the while smiling to Hillary while she gives them our money because she knows so much ... And why do so many of them come to the US just to SEPARATE themselves from us ... DUH ... Dear US Government please do your job and protect the US correctly or we will fire you:) and from the looks of things, you need to prepare your resumes ... Please vote in someone who knows an enemy when they see one, and would never give terrorists or anyone who supports and hides them billions in cash so they can continue murdering at will, us being one of their number 1 targets. The military needs to be going in and rescuing this Dr. who handed over Bin laden to them, and then themselves getting out of there, and home to their families ... where nothing is being accomplished except what this Dr. has done ... and while your at it ... Rescue some of our tax dollars back so we can begin paying the "trillions" in debt accrued over the past YEAR or so that President Obama says "He has not done" :) .... lol ... I am sure there are stacks of US money sitting around waiting to come home to the USA :)
... AND only msnbc or morning joe could ask this question as a headline "'Schizophrenic ally': $33M in Pakistan aid to be
axed?" let's see if they allow their own link .. if not this is the question they headed the article with "Schizophrenic ally : 33M in Pakistan aid to be axed?" .... they want to know WHY? ... herein lies a major part of our problems ... we need to do something about the mainstream media that lies right along with them ... GOODMORNING JOE ... selah
Pakistan has always been a terrorist state. Yet both of our parties have supported it for the last 40 years. Yes Reagan too supported Pakistan. During Reagan's years, India was allied with Communist China. Reagan started giving aid to Pakistan as a counterbalance, and turned a blind eye when Pakistani terrorists attacked Kashmir. Remember that Reagan also armed and trained terrorists fighting the USSR after it invaded Afghanistan. These terrorists are now called Elqaida.
One more reason this administration should be held accountible for their chest thumping and revealing of just what and how they accomplished something. To what end did this Dr. and his involvement need to be released to anyone. His sentence and what happens to him lie's directly at the feet of the president. Again I don't get their idea of transparency. Telling the world how we accomplished this mission exspeacially while even one person and their part of helping us was still in danger. This is a criminal act and will make anyone who know's helping us could mean danger to themselves if found out think twice about helping such a loose lipped bunch of give me credit moron's!
Chest thumping, Its far mor akin to FOOT THUMPING.
Yes I guess it would be with thumb in mouth and blanky at hand.
Yet, outing C.I.A agents is down right Patriotic
maddy indabuff NY.......
Your appraisal of who will "think twice" conveniently omits Al Qaeda fugitives who must now wonder if Pakistan is as safe a haven as they once imagined.
Pakistan is and always has been a duplicitous rat fink nation for whom the word "ally" is a hyperbolic misnomer.
The Obama administration understood this even before they took office. They did what they said they would do and what we should have done years earlier.
Dr. Afridi was arrested in Pakistan days after the execution of Bin Laden. He was attempting to flee the country. It is unfortunate he was unable to escape. But, he undoubtedly understood the risks when he agreed to assist the U.S..
Hopefully, we can apply enough pressure upon Pakistan that Dr. Afridi will be released to come to this country.
Collateral damage, if it is true, and I doubt it. I imagine some Agency, who has no friends, and contacts they usually pick up in expensive whorehouses, are trying to justify...a very large expenses TAB.