Obama pledges $7.5 billion "down payment" to Pakistan for US security

The Times of India ^ | 27 March, 2009 | The Times of India

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Friday affirmed a tripling of US economic aid to Pakistan to $ 1.5 billion annually over the next five years, calling it a ''down payment'' for America’s future security even though he unambiguously accused the country of being a safe haven for al-Qaida and its leadership.

Obama announced what seemed like a buy-out strategy while unveiling his administration’s new Af-Pak policy in which there was a pronounced shift to Pakistan as the central front in the so-called war on terror. In an oblique indictment of Islamabad, Obama implied that Pakistan's military strategy was the root cause of trouble in Afghanistan, and Pakistani actions, or inaction, was hurting its own people and Afghans, besides threatening the whole world.

''Make no mistake: al-Qaida and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within,'' Obama warned, even as he repeatedly expressed support for the Pakistani people and outlined policies to stabilize the troubled country. ''That is why we must focus our military assistance on the tools, training and support that Pakistan needs to root out the terrorists.''

However, in a clear message to Islamabad that it has to shape up and deliver, the US President warned that it would be held accountable for the generous aid he is requesting from Congress.

''After years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaida and the violent extremists within its borders. And we will insist that action be taken – one way or another – when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets,'' he said.

Obama also announced that together with the United Nations, Washington will forge a new Contact Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan ''that brings together all countries who should have a stake in the security of the region,'' including India, Iran, Russia, China, Gulf nations, Central Asian states, and NATO allies. ''None of these nations benefit from a base for al-Qaida terrorists, and a region that descends into chaos. All have a stake in the promise of lasting peace and security and development,'' he said.

Obama also acknowledged in passing Pakistan’s insistence that its troublesome security outlook was tied to disputes with India, saying ''to lessen tensions between two nuclear-armed nations that too often teeter on the edge of escalation and confrontation, we (US) must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan.'' He did not elaborate.

The US President announced that over and above the 17,000 additional troops Washington was deploying to Afghanistan, he would be sending a further 4000 troops to train Afghan security forces whose eventual readiness to take over duties would pave way for a US withdrawal. ( Watch )

Obama was blunt in repeatedly putting Pakistan — and not Afghanistan, which he suggested was a victim — in the cross-hairs of the war on terror.

''Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al-Qaida is actively planning attacks on the US. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan...They have used this mountainous terrain as a safe-haven to hide, train terrorists, communicate with followers, plot attacks, and send fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan.'' he said, adding that the future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of Pakistan.

Obama also sought to distance Washington from Pakistan’s overarching military, saying the US has great respect for the Pakistani people and empathized with their struggles and aspirations which was the same as the people all across the world.

''The single greatest threat to that future comes from al-Qaida and their extremist allies, and that is why we must stand together,'' he said.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Kurukshetra War - Kali Yuga ping...

To be added to or removed from this ping list, please FReepmail Sir Francis Dashwood.

[justa-hairyape]

I did read the whole post. I do believe NO one is GONNA let the Pakistani nukes go anywhere. We all know this. Everyone who has been reading FR since 2001 knows this.

There have been quite a few posters who have stated that Obama will abandon Afghanistan. In fact many of the people who voted for Obama apparently thought he would. The truth is that US foreign policy is not being controlled by the executive branch and has not for quite some time. Twiddle Dee, Twiddle Dum.

People with drug warrior mentalities are often blinded by hate.

The poppy and goat remark was a metaphor for the lack of strategic resources in that part of the world. The Russians learned their lesson in Afghanistan. Don't commit forces to a war that cannot eventually pay for itself. The US is now over 10 trillion in debt and letting the Russians more or less have their way in Eastern Europe. You don't need a crystal ball to see where this is all heading.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks for the ping. I was just thinking about this list. Have you heard whether they’ve had elections in India yet?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

The elections startin mid April...

[voletti]

>>The elections startin mid April...

And will last into Mid May.

And it will be an epic battle between the forces of darkness and of light - much like the Kurukshetra scene you’ve displayed.

The nationalist right in India simply has to rise to the occasion and win power else the nincompoop, socialist, muslim-appeasing lefties will drag India further down into the cesspit of nonperformance and poverty.

JMTs of course.