Pakistan: US Suspends $800m of Military Aid

[Feuer Frei!]

The US says it is withholding some $800m in military aid to Pakistan.
White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley told ABC television that Pakistan had "taken some steps that have given us reason to pause on some of the aid".
He said the US raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in May had affected ties but he insisted the relationship "must be made to work over time".
The $800m (£500m) equates to about a third of the annual US security aid to Pakistan, US officials say.
In figures submitted to the International Monetary Fund last autumn, Pakistan's defence expenditure in its 2010-2011 budget was put at $6.41bn - an increase of $1.27bn on the previous year.


Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Mr Daley accepted that Pakistan had been "an important ally in the fight on terrorism. They've been the victim of enormous amounts of terrorism".
He added: "It's a complicated relationship in a very difficult, complicated part of the world. Obviously, there's still lot of pain that the political system in Pakistan is feeling by virtue of the raid that we did to get Osama Bin Laden, something that the president felt strongly about and we have no regrets over.
"Until we get through these difficulties, we will hold back some of the money that the American taxpayers have committed to give them."


Pakistan's former ambassador to the US, Meleeha Lodhi, told the BBC the US move would be counterproductive.
She said: "Washington is going to be left without any influence with the Pakistan army and with the people of Pakistan because this will be seen as an action that will punish Pakistan rather than provide an incentive for cooperation.
"This is not the way to rebuild a relationship that has been in a state of disrepair for several months."


SOURCE (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14099402)

[mookiemookie]

Good. They're corrupt anyways.

[GoldenRivet]

should have cut it by 100% and told them to go shag themselves

[Zuk]

So what are they expected? They thought they could get money and continue to develop their nuclear program? Ridiculous.

[Feuer Frei!]

Update:

Pakistan's army spokesman has said a cut in US military aid will not affect its ability to combat terror groups.
Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC that Islamabad had not yet been officially told of the reason for the $800m (£500m) cuts or what they would entail.
In a sign of their deteriorating relationship, Pakistan has since expelled more than 100 US military trainers and has threatened to shut down a CIA base. The top US military officer Adm Mike Mullen also suggested last week that the Pakistani government had "sanctioned" the killing in May of journalist Saleem Shahzad.
Gen Abbas said the move would have "no significant effect" on Pakistan's anti-terror efforts. "We will continue our operations as in the past."
Two major military operations currently under way in the Mohmand and Kurram tribal regions were being run without external support and would continue, he said, adding that al-Qaeda and other military groups operating in Pakistan were "not only a threat to us but to others".
Gen Abbas said he could not say which parts of the military would be worst hit until US officials told him what sections of aid were being cut.


SOURCE (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14104342)

[Jimbuna]

will not affect its ability to combat terror groups


Probably not...I doubt they do that much on the subject anyway.

To the US......stop ALL military aid 100% and tell em to go cap in hand to China or whoever else can be bothered with them.

It won't be long before they realise their new benefactors will want a higher price/level of influence in return.

[Krauter]

Update:
Gen Abbas said the move would have "no significant effect" on Pakistan's anti-terror efforts.
How can it have a negative effect when all of their past anti-terror efforts have been aiding terrorists :nope:

[Jimbuna]

Precisely!!

[Gerald]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=185404

[Platapus]

I really can't understand the need for US military aid for Pakistan.

I agree, pull all the aid.

I also agree to pull aid from other countries. If the US is in great economic positions, sure, it is noble to help out other countries.

But when our economy is in the crapper, and our spending is out of control. I would love to have a President who would announce a new "America First" economic plan.

How can we possibly justify spending money on other countries when our own infrastructure is crumbling due to lack of funding.

There is no Soviet Domino threat any more.

I swear, the older I get the more isolationist I am getting. Not one dime to any country until our own people are taken care of.

[Tribesman]

I really can't understand the need for US military aid for Pakistan.

The reason is twofold.
Firstly and most importantly(in theory) is to exert some sort of leverage, it doesn't really work though as there is always someone else who will supply spares and support or completely new systems.
Secondly to keep industrty and workers fed with more taxpayers money as domestic military spending will always have some sort of limit.

I could go for a third string, but that would only be to wind some of american "conservatives" up:03:

[Task Force]

Yes, they need to start giving that money to the country of Taskforceastan!

[Oberon]

There is also the niggly problem of that supply route to NATO forces in Afghanistan...

[Jimbuna]

There is also the niggly problem of that supply route to NATO forces in Afghanistan...

Oh I think if push came to shove another route would be found....more costly and time consuming perhaps but another route nonetheless.

[Tribesman]

Oh I think if push came to shove another route would be found....more costly and time consuming perhaps but another route nonetheless.
Iran?

[TLAM Strike]

Yes, they need to start giving that money to the country of Taskforceastan! To get money from the US you have to first have nuclear weapons and/or pledge your support to the destruction of Israel, South Korea or democracy in general. ;)

There is also the niggly problem of that supply route to NATO forces in Afghanistan...
I guess you are allowed to use that word in the UK... :hmmm:

[Herr-Berbunch]

I guess you are allowed to use that word in the UK... :hmmm:

Yeah, we're full o' niggles here. Doubt is the best one, niggling doubt, but I think I've put that before. But where? Is it here? Or is it somewhere else? :doh:

[Armistead]

No doubt much of the aid has been misused and probably funding terror, not fighting it...The things our government does blows my mind.

[Jimbuna]

Iran?

Heaven forbid!!

[Tribesman]

Heaven forbid!!
When you look at the previous supply route partners both north and south of Afghanistan then the crazy mullahs in Iran actually look like the normal people for the job

[Jimbuna]

When you look at the previous supply route partners both north and south of Afghanistan then the crazy mullahs in Iran actually look like the normal people for the job

Depends on your interpretation of 'normal'.

[Tribesman]

Depends on your interpretation of 'normal'.
"normal" as in just as crazy as the other loons they chose to call "friends"