Speaking at the Senate Appropriations Panel today, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta discussed the closed border with Pakistan, saying it is costing the US an additional $100 million every month to use alternative supply routes through the north.
The comments were in the context of a discussion of whether or not to cut yet more planned aid to Pakistan. Panetta warned against a full cut but encouraged the US to place conditions on the continued delivery of $3.5 billion in aid to Pakistan this year.
Pakistan closed the border in November after a US attack killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, and its parliament has conditioned reopening the border on the US apologizing for the killings and also promising to end drone strikes. The US has ruled out doing either, and yesterday US officials say Pakistan should just “bite the bullet” and accept reopening the route without any concessions.
Pakistan’s military was authorized to negotiate a settlement, and raised the prospect of simply changing more for the NATO trucks to cover the cost of security. The US condemned this as price gouging, though Panetta’s comments today suggest it would be much cheaper than the alternative.
Foreign Minister Hina Khar rejected the idea that this was “price gouging” and said Pakistan had been clear about what was needed from the US to reopen the border. The US withdrew its negotiators earlier this week, saying talks had stalled.
So, get out of there, and spend the money on the American people. oooh scary, I know. What, and leave warmongering ?? Give up bloodletting, and maiming ?
The figure may be high, but forcing the US to burn up the money may be the way to accelerate the inevitable decision to get outta there! One can only hope.
All aide to Pakistan should be eliminated. All drone strikes in Pakistan should come to an immediate stop. All the troops in Afghanistan should be withdrawn. Problem solved!
Panetta is being paid to go around the world killing non-christian brown people for the NATO gang. He has to consider such inappropriate aggressions. We should not have to consider the cost at all. Nor the lame excuses offered up for it.