Posted on 04/17/2009 6:15:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Despite stark disagreements about benchmarks for an aid package proposed by President Obama, the U.S. pledged $1 billion to Pakistan at an international donors conference in Tokyo on Friday — a "down payment" for billions more to be sought in Congress.
Envoy Richard Holbrooke, whose trip to Pakistan with Adm. Mike Mullen last week produced protestations about strings attached to proposed aid, announced behind closed doors the development and stabilization pledge, which will be spread over two years.
The uses for the aid will be determined by the International Monetary Fund. Pakistan had turned to the IMF last fall when its economy was dangerously weak, resulting in a $7.6 billion aid package.
Japan, already the biggest contributor of aid to Pakistan, announced that it will pony up $1 billion at the conference; in return, President Asif Ali Zardari said earlier that a special "Japanese economic zone" will be established near Karachi.
Obama has proposed $1.5 billion in aid over five years to Pakistan, and the Kerry-Lugar bill to be introduced after the congressional recess advocates five more years of aid, provided benchmarks are met, for a total of $15 billion over a decade.
"This $1 billion is a down payment on President Obama's commitment to support a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress, co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Richard Lugar [R-Ind.], that authorizes $1.5 billion in direct support to the Pakistan people every year over the next five years," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said in a statement.
Wood said the conference pledge, which will need congressional approval, "will support development and social safety net spending to meet Pakistan's short-term needs," aiding education, agriculture and infrastructure.
More than 30 countries and organizations attended the conference, with the World Bank eyeing a $6 billion fundraising goal.
Zardari wrote in the Japan Times on Thursday that "Pakistan needs a sort of Marshall Plan to address the issues raised in the fight against militancy."
Wood said earlier this week that the U.S. would be making a pledge at the conference, but added America would "want to see certain standards and goals met."
"I think you would expect when the U.S. taxpayer is providing money, assistance to a country, that we want to make sure that we're not only getting our money's worth but that certain things that we care about, we want to see that they be dealt with," Wood said at Tuesday's State Department briefing.
But Pakistan has balked at the attachment of conditions to the aid, and the U.S. has spoken out in recent days against a deal the Pakistani government brokered with the Taliban in one region of the country that puts those residents under Sharia law.
On a trip to the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas on Tuesday, Kerry said the region was too lawless at the moment to even benefit from U.S. aid. "You can't yet spend the money there," he told ABC News. "It is too dangerous there."
It’s only your money.
Obama has proposed $1.5 billion in aid over five years to Pakistan, and the Kerry-Lugar bill to be introduced after the congressional recess advocates five more years of aid, provided benchmarks are met, for a total of $15 billion over a decade.
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On a trip to the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas on Tuesday, Kerry said the region was too lawless at the moment to even benefit from U.S. aid. “You can’t yet spend the money there,” he told ABC News. “It is too dangerous there.”
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A Billion dollars worth of HellFires maybe.. first
Where the hell is the money tree—I want to pick some. D.A.M.N.
Great - it will probably be used as “stimulus” to help the Taliban govern the Swat Valley.
It’s just my tax dollars (and those of the shrinking minority who actually pay income taxes). No big deal.
Pakistan gets a bailout now too, eh? 0bama is such a moron.
Yes you can cowardly traitor Kerry."I think you would expect when the U.S. taxpayer is providing money, assistance to a country, that we want to make sure that we're not only getting our money's worth but that certain things that we care about, we want to see that they be dealt with," Wood said at Tuesday's State Department briefing.
But Pakistan has balked at the attachment of conditions to the aid [then you can't have any money, period--American Taxpayers], and the U.S. has spoken out in recent days against a deal the Pakistani government brokered with the Taliban in one region of the country that puts those residents under Sharia law.
On a trip to the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas on Tuesday, Kerry said the region was too lawless at the moment to even benefit from U.S. aid. "You can't yet spend the money there," he told ABC News. "It is too dangerous there."
Spend money to clear out the terrorists and secure the border with Iraq.
Any other use of the money should be denied. Period.
what is the history of US financing of Pakistan??
is Obama/Clinton giving more?
Bin Laden will be in Charge in 6 months.
Furious! I’m furious! Money for Pakistan, money for Palestine, money for everyone. Money we don’t have and will have to pay on forever!
The dollar crisis can’t come fast enough. It’s the only thing that will put a stop to all this.
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