Continuing to 'Soften Up' Pakistan

The Obama administration's decision to suspend $800 million in aid to the Pakistan's military signals a tougher U.S. line with a critical but sometimes unreliable partner in the fight against terrorism.

President Barack Obama's chief of staff, William Daley, said in a broadcast interview Sunday that the estranged relationship between the United States and Pakistan must be made "to work over time," but until it does, "we'll hold back some of the money that the American taxpayers are committed to give" to the country's powerful military forces.

The suspension of U.S. aid, first reported by the New York Times, followed a statement last week by Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, that Pakistan's security services may have sanctioned the killing of Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad who wrote about infiltration of the military by extremists. His battered body was found in June.

  Houston Chronicle

The new US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, said over the weekend that he believed Bin Laden's successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was in Pakistan's tribal area and "he's one of those we would like to see the Pakistanis target". Pakistan responded by asking for the US to share the intelligence on Zawahiri's whereabouts.

  UKGuardian

Well, yes, I guess that would be helpful.

Major General Athar Abbas, the chief spokesman for the Pakistan military, said that the military had received no formal notification of any [US military] aid being cut. He also pointed out that the army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, had already declared that cash reimbursements to the military, known as coalition support funds, should go instead to the civilian government, where there was more need.

Now, see, we aren’t going to like that. And by “the civilian government,” who do you mean, exactly?

There are also questions hanging over future civilian aid, which is meant to provide $1.5bn a year in economic help.

[...]

Since 2001, the US has provided $21bn in civilian and military assistance, including $4.5bn in the 2010-2011 financial year, as aid was increased under the Obama administration. Two proposed bills in Congress over the last week, which were voted down, would have cut off aid to Pakistan altogether.

[...]

Critical stories about Pakistan are leaked on an almost daily basis to the American press, riling Pakistani public and official opinion against Washington. Many in Pakistan believe there is a concerted American effort to weaken Pakistan and its armed forces, which are some of the largest in the world.

[...]

Pakistan's economy is spiralling downwards, with electricity shortages shutting down industry, and rising food and fuel prices causing protests on the streets.

Another failed state for us to co-opt. And if we’re going to do that, naturally, we do not want to support its military.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.