While reports on Thursday suggested US aid to Pakistan could be cut by $255 million to $400 million, officials on Friday suggest the figure is to be much larger, with one administration official say $2 billion is “in play.”
Which isn’t to say that the cuts will be all of $2 billion, but rather that this is the maximum possible, for what officials say is not yet finalized. Some $900 million is already cut, and more is expected to come.
This follows months of threats to cut Pakistan aid, which came to a head a week ago, when President Trump declared the US to have given Pakistan $33 billion since 9/11 and got nothing in return, suggesting the money would be better spent elsewhere.
Pakistani officials have expressed anger at Trump’s comments, less about the cuts themselves than about the allegations that they support terrorism. Pakistani officials have said the US is scapegoating them for their own failures in Afghanistan.
Should not we, for the sake of true antiwar spirit, quote Palistani head of Air Force, and the real issues behind turning Pakistan into an enemy? I hate to say it, but RT. Is really head and shoulders above all our mainstream media, and in many respects better then alternative, anti-intervention, anti-regime change or anti-nation building policies? It is hard to find information any more that is at the heart of policy issues. Pakistan change of policy is kne of those things — as if it came out if nowhere. As if we did not try another judiciary lead coup in Pakistan, and as if military did not step into the breech — making US very unhappy. There are just so many things at stake — but anytiwar universe seems to accept official story — Pakistan no good in terrorism (our definition), or (insert the name of the country here) has corrupt leadership. The two are usually sufficient to justify whatever — and not many questions asked.
Leaderless Pakistan is wounded & staggering.. Corrupt leadershits in charge shown to be the venal monsters, selling the lives
Unfortunatelly, I do not believe he is genuine. He is a manufactured candidate, and the real question is — who is paying for it. The political struggle in Pakistan is obvious. It came on the heels of Pakistan joining SCO and starting to implement economic corridor from China to Gwadar port. Port is commercial — but China will be building a naval base. That is now confirmed. Keep in mind that power struggle involves multiple opposing sides. Keep in mind that US has on its side powerfull and wealthy terror barons— those that helped build Taliban armies via hundreds of Saudi paid madrassas and its students (Taliban) were sent to Afghanistan from there. Bhutto clan was part of that structure. US and Saudis had built a powerful judicial lobby that once already ousted America’s thorn in its side – Musharaff. Once Shariff managed to curb the barrons — the judiciary was called in again to have him brought down on corruption. But his party has popular support, so they could not neutralize him. But the US sponsored silent coup went as far as to have a full scale propaganda how the Chinese financed corridor is bad for Pakistan. Military stepped in, and announced that US cannot any longer bomb any targets within Pakistan as such planes or drones would be shut down. Military is not stupid — they are not threatening US supply route — money made by many Pakistanies. This is a way to draw red lines, without going extreme. One has to keep some ammunition for later. Imran Khan is just aggitating fir kicking America out, suggesting military is feeble and corrupt. Sure, why not undermine whatever organized strength Pakistan has, cause chaos and prop up a version of Macron to power. Since US has its supporters in Parliament, various barrons in Administration and supreme court ready to do whatever asked, it is clear that they want China out, and reshuffle military with dumb popular support. France fell for it with Sarkozy — who took France into NATO, and again Macron that is now performing its puppet duties. In Moldiova there is a farsical Supreme court that decides what legislation can be vetoed and on what day to curb undesireable president.
But in Pakistan it will be harder to pull this off as military is too strong and supported. It is tense situation, but the battle may have to be fought for Pakistan — not for Iran. US may have to chose its poison. Also, when push comes to shove, India will not back US in any Pakistani adventures. The famous money woud just be redirected to the “oppositiin” and a new colored one is on its way.
I’m pretty drunk now on Russian vodka, but I’m pretty sure that in the absence of US dollars, the Russians and/or the Chinese would be happy to step up and bankroll Pakistan while they sweet them under their wings. This is not a game you can play, Washington: you’re in or your’e out.
China is already staffing a naval base in Pakistan: http://www.newsweek.com/china-building-military-base-pakistan-america-balochistan-772092?yptr=yahoo
…and they are still probably 49 naval bases behind the US around the world
More like 549 bases behind…..
Out is obviously the smart move for a bankrupt country. Or even a sane sober solvent one like, for example Switzerland..A country where
a. They have a rail system
b. The trains don’t slaughter and maim
And where by tradition all the royal beads if Europe, and lesser royals, along with crooks and assorted organized crime all keep their valuables, and the country is thus spared the abundant orgy of European wars. That was the place where all spies visited during the war, all arms merchants, bankers. There they could talk, and money exchanged hands. It is easy to excel when enjoying long term stability.
Not true, anytime a person, country, NGO or whatever is willing to give billions to destitute degenerate degenerate demented devils anywhere, as soon as the recipients are able to lay hand on the bucks, you are back in, if not through the front door, then the back… “Money doesn’t talk, it swears…
Try to remember that all of this was true until 9/11. That was the time when Pakistan was to be put under a complete control. The tension between India and Pakistan was a tool for manipulating both. Military coup under Musharaff had been a first real hit against clans that rented Pakistan to whoever needed their children for foreign sponsored armies. But Musharaf was ousted via US paid for and controled judiciary in Pakistan. Bhutto clan was to be brought back from Emirates. The assasination ended that attempt of getting Pakistan back, but US alllowed the differences to be papered over — for as long as military stayed reasonably compliant — reasonably, meaning US was not exacerbating negative reactions to US.
But Pakistan was building relationship with China — slowly but surely. India decided to enter the Eurasian political structure, to avoid being vulnerable to US pressure. Both India and Pakistan were accepted jointly into Shangai Cooperation Organization. Lets keep in mind that both spent one year between acceptance and the effective date of full membership. The year was spent signing up agreements, and strategies with China and Russia. The events that followed showed a remarkable degree of plotting and acting — all for US benefit. The most memorable was Indian attack on Pakistan for the existance of terror networks. US was goaded by India to joun international condemnation of Pakistan. US could not do it, as Pakistan hit in the real networks and wealthy terror barrons supported by US, UK and Saudis. Those were the ones who facilitated Al-Qaeda entry into Afghanistan, and fight against Soviet supportted Kabul government. These were Bhutto allies, that corrupted government and military. But US could not openly help them, as their track record was very well known. The coordination within SCO was superbe, as it kept various conflicts alive, making it difficult for US to pull the plug on anything. Even when Chinese-Indian issues kept on being raised, there was much reluctance to go against Pakistan and its Chinese economic relations. But Trump administration has a phylosophy of not being patient — but to cut off their losses, and move on. By declaring Pakistan an enemy, it is putting the pressure on China, Russia and India — counting on its ability to manipulate Pakistani internal conflicts.
While it is too early in the game — one thing is sure. Military has taken the lead in defending soveregnity, while Shariff is techically out, but not politically. This reminds me of a long running conflict within Turkey, until it was decusevely won by anti-Western forces after coup. Pakistan is heading into sharpened internal conflict – and luke in Turkey — US is not understanding the internal power. It is easy to buy or coerce a handfull of judges — but the social awareness is very different today.
I do not look favorably on Imran Khan phenomena. One just needs to follow media that never fails to demonize those leaders that are the enemies of US. Just take Erdogan for example. But when say Reuters talks about Khan, and his call to eliminate all American influence, the language is sanguine, no labels of ultra-nationalism, encouraging terrorists, etc. For some reason — he is an OK guy? In Turkey we tried to prop up then Prime Minister Davutoglu, who promissed visa free regime to Germany, and was the proponent of modern Ottoman imperial policies for popular consumption. But blamed on Erdogan. This is but one example of propping up populism. Once I find anywhere in globalist media a demonisation of Khan, I may change my mind.
“Aid”?!? … hmmm
“Payment for Services Rendered”
Yeah that’s more like it.
Foreign aid is intended to buy influence. Reduced US influence is a win for the people of Pakistan.
A win for Pakistan…..????? Foreign aid bribes monsters to allow & enable our crimes & genocide against THEIR OWN PEOPLES… Some win!!! NOT… It allows US to do our endless crimes unimpeded…. There seems to be no BAD actions or crimes which are beneath us… Just ask Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell pimping American children around the world… Enabled and or protected by Alan Dershowitz, Ken Star and the whoz who of legal luminaries…
It’s a start.
Now, move a little further to the west.
I believe that Pakistan power struggle is the response to US march on Iran. By trying to decapitate the leadership via judicial coup, US made a mistake. This only sped up the internal duel that was comming for a while. The terror network is — funny enough — not the rag tag militants in autonomous regions, but the reliable builders if terror armies in Pakistan, from Al -Qaeda to Taliban. This infrastructure has been undermined by Shariff — hope we have some memory left to remember India’s accussatiins of terror networks in Pakistan. That was a well played game between the two — a charge which allowed Shariff to hit hard against such “enterprises”, most of them being supported by US and Saudi Arabia, as well as UAE. But US could not do anything to protect them, as India — a coveted ally — raised an international noise aimed at dismantling these US sponsored barrons. But as the nerwork has been dismantled, those powerful people did everything to get the ruling party undermined. Pakistan furned to China, as well as to Russia for support. However, the consolidation if economic interests, loss of power of various military contractors tied to US and stronger ties between the rulling party and military — resulted in US pulling the judiciary card — and setting in motion the power struggle. Imran Khan’s populism is benefiting US, as the outcome that repudiates oro-China orientation and military — would benefit all pro-US interests. Imran Khan did not stand up for the immensely beneficial economic corridor when larely the oro-US media scribes attacked it as colonialism. I still do not know how he intends to kick US out, while not explaining who would support Pakistan both financially or militarily. Ocassiinaly he seems to get it — but the fact that powers behind him are opaque makes me believe that he is propoed up to offer “alternative” to tired population.
While it is good to ask Pakistan about what they did with the $33 billion, but the real question is where did the remaining $967 billion go? The cost of Afghan deployment is north of $800,000 per soldier per year, isn’t it time to bring them all back?
And these 33 billion over 15 years? Annually, not much for Pakistani budget.