On a high profile visit to Pakistan today, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel informed the country that the $1.6 billion in annual aid they receive is conditional on them ending the public protests against US drone strikes, protests which led to the US to halt shipments from Afghanistan through Pakistan.
The aid resumed at the end of October, and almost immediately Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government, which had been condemning drone strikes regularly, started clamming up, so it’s clear this was meant to be part of the deal.
After today’s meeting, Sharif made it clear he believes the strikes are “counter-productive,” but Pentagon officials also say they received assurances from Sharif that something would be done about the protesters.
Over the weekend it was reported that Sharif has ordered police to draw up plans to crush the protests as well, suggesting Hagel’s demand to end the public show of dissent was not a surprise.
The question is whether Sharif can successfully end the protests, particularly after campaign on a promise to end the strikes. Not doing so could cost him so major US cash, but the attempt is bound to cost him a lot of credibility.
It is not lost on the Pakistanis, either, that the drone protests are a direct result of the US twice reneging on promises to end the strikes, once assassinating a Taliban leader less than 24 hours before the peace talks, then attacking a religious school on the planned first day of protests, adding a lot of fuel to the fire.
And then there's this USA Today story about China's paltry typhoon aid to the Philippines: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/…. That's unfortunate, because I was just going to ask if China could step in and pick up on aid to Pakistan if the U.S. cut Pakistan off. Unless non-EU countries like China and Russia are able and willing to do so, then Pakistan's in an ugly spot versus the Wall Street Empire.
That seems like it would be an excellent move for China and Russia. They should also declare the sanctions on Iran over and profit from business deals.
Pakistan is China's all weather friend…stategically located. The Philippines has always been antagonistic to China at the behest of its American "friends" who once upon a time slaughtered over 600,000 Filipino natives, whom T. Roosevelt described as tree monkeys.
A consortium of SCO states including Russia and China could step in and take up the slack, but it might come attached with strings as well.
Down with Pakistani government, a US puppet, that allows war criminals insult Pakistani citizen by pointing to their dirty money where people of Pakistan do not see, only the Pakistan military and other traitors.
Pakistanis must continue their protest until all the foreigners, including pentagon, are out and their puppet, Pakistan military and prime minister are toppled.
Does anyone in Pakistan apart from politicians and the military get any benefit from this "aid"?
…now what else could offend the US and thus hurt-the-'national-economy.'
Blame the artificially 'strong' dollar? Maybe crap like this could go on forever until you finally need a wheel barrel of twenties to buy a loaf of bread.
So we now know the cost of killing in Pakistan.
How much does "Homeland Security" give to cities and states here in the US?
DRONES are EVIL.
Perpetuating this evil makes the USA also EVIL.
Sharif is willing to cover himself in money to avoid condemning America's evil. But can he hide from the wrath of his own countrymen?
So Hagel is in Pakistan demanding the Pakistan government end protests against US drone strikes. What about the right of the people of Pakistan to free speech, and to protest the policies of their government they find disagreeable? These rights are not just reserved to the people of the United States but are universal. And these rights are universal as amended by the concept of American exceptionalism. Everyone has the right to free speech and protest, here come the part about American exceptionalism, except when it comes to the right of the USG to murder innocent men, women, and children with killer robots in the name of ending terrorism.
it is always about money
the US congress falls all over itself for is because of…..money from thier supporters
I have lost all respect for Hagel….
he has turned into a clown
So SecDef Meatpuppet is threatening to cut off the money? Do it SecDef Meatpuppet. Then cut off the aid to Afghaniscam, Israel, the House of Saudomy, the Bahrainis, and Egypt. That'd work for starters.
The problem with realizing that you are being played for a fool is there is really no face-saving way to end it…without admitting you were a fool from the beginning. The USG stupidly believes that by paying these countries $$BILLIONS$$$ of taxpayer funds they are buying loyalty…from people who hate us for our arrogance and self-declared "Exceptionalism" which we continually jam down the throats of the rest of the planet.
At some point, someone is going to make the US pay. When are the people we select to govern us going to realize that when the scheisse hits the fan, no amount of money or prestige or privilege is going to save them. They will be first on the list the American people draw up for retribution. There will be no Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
I disagree on your assertion that the FedGov thinks that it is buying loyalty. I would say that the FedGov is quite cynical enough to rope their bought-and-paid-for puppets into corners in which they can be endlessly blackmailed into doing Washington's bidding. By the time you're a puppet-dictator, you have only two options: trying to hang on to the obscene opulence that collaboration with Washington brings you, or falling from power to a life of penury in exile (relative, perhaps, but of crucial psychological significance for those accustomed to obscene wealth), or being put in front of a firing squad at home. It's only when the occasional puppet somehow gets a spine, or when the people of the puppet's country overthrow him that it backfires on Washington. So far, this formula has been a winning formula for Washington's schemes, although as you correctly point out, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the planet overthrows the US.
I disagree on your assertion that the FedGov thinks that it is buying loyalty. I would say that the FedGov is quite cynical enough to rope their bought-and-paid-for puppets into corners in which they can be endlessly blackmailed into doing Washington's bidding. By the time you're a puppet-dictator, you have only three options: trying to hang on to the obscene opulence that collaboration with Washington brings you, or falling from power to a life of penury in exile (relative, perhaps, but of crucial psychological significance for those accustomed to obscene wealth), or being put in front of a firing squad at home. It's only when the occasional puppet somehow gets a spine, or when the people of the puppet's country overthrow him that it backfires on Washington. So far, this formula has been a winning formula for Washington's schemes, although as you correctly point out, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the planet overthrows the US.
I disagree on your assertion that the FedGov thinks that it is buying loyalty. I would say that the FedGov is quite cynical enough to rope their bought-and-paid-for puppets into corners in which they can be endlessly blackmailed into doing Washington's bidding. By the time you're a puppet-dictator, you have only three options: trying to hang on to the obscene opulence that collaboration with Washington brings you, or falling from power to a life of penury in exile (relative, perhaps, but of crucial psychological significance for those accustomed to obscene wealth), or being put in front of a firing squad at home. It's only when the occasional puppet somehow gets a spine, or when the people of the puppet's country overthrow him, that it backfires on Washington. So far, this formula has been a winning formula for Washington's schemes, although as you correctly point out, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the planet overthrows the US.
Hmmm… The "loyalty" gambit is pretty simple and doesn't require an inordinate amount of thought to implement. The selling of that to the American public straight-forward – something the lacky press can handle, usually.
What you propose is more involved and obviously well thought out, perhaps decades ago – or maybe from the beginning. The long-range plan strikes me as more probable, which begs the question, if so, then who? Who are the planners? Who do they own?
That's what I want to know…I want the names.
What an offer. Let us give you aid, but it comes with a certain corollary- let us kill your people mercilessly and don't complain about it.
As I said before, "the people of Pakistan should exercise their religious rights and issue a 'Fatwa' on Sharif."
i am sick of puking my heart and ripping out my brain over this absolute crystallized insanity that is the epitome of psychopathic behavior on the part of ameirca….Somebody has to stop this
Two pluses for Pakistan if the "aid" and the drones are stopped. The "aid" is almost exclusively military (for killing), the drone attacks are mass murder. End both. Plus for the US, too.
How did Pakistan ever survive before Uncle Sam's barbed wire boots meandered into their collective rumps ?
How did Pakistan ever survive before Uncle Sam's barbed wire boots meandered into their collective rumps ?
How did Pakistan ever survive before Uncle Sam's barbed wire boots meandered into their collective rumps ?
Some people actually took Hagel seriously, despite who appointed him.
Soemthing's radically amiss with this story. Since when does antiwar.com rely upon the Washington Times for its evidence? And where exactly is the evidence? There's not a single quote herein of Hagel saying any such thing, of threatening to withdraw the alliance if the protests against the drones don't stop. Hagel's not that stupid. Hardly. What's stupid here is antiwar relying upon the ultra right wing Washington Times as its source. What sad comedy!
Pentagon and NATO strategic incompetence has allowed a Pakistani stranglehold on NATO-ISAF ground supply routes while the same Pakistani military given $10 billion since 2001 is actually SUPPORTING, RECRUITING, TRAINING, SUPPLYING AND DIRECTING THE TALIBAN against our forces.
Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism and the Taliban against us yet our military and their defence secretary seem in denial about this.
So the Pakistan military is responsible for the deaths of thousands of US soldiers yet gets billions of US dollars. Where's the sense in that?
Watch the "SECRET PAKISTAN" videos.
And check out these AfPak Mission links
AfPak Mission channel http://www.youtube.com/user/AfpakMission
AfPak Mission twitter http://twitter.com/AfPakMission
AfPak Mission forum http://scot.tk/forum/viewforum.php?f=26
AfPak Mission flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/afpakmission/
AfPak Mission blog http://peterdow.wordpress.com/category/afghanista…