Pakistan to bill US for war support (MUCHO BARF ALERT)

THE TIMES OF INDIA ^ | FEBRUARY 18, 2002

[Madiuq]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will begin charging the United States about $60 million a month for logistical support it has provided to the war on terrorism, the finance minister said after a trip to Washington.

Shaukat Aziz said late Saturday that Pakistan was "in the process" of billing Washington $300 million for support through the end of January.

After that, Pakistan will issue monthly bills that will average $60 million, Aziz said.

"We will bill them monthly for certain things under the acquisition and cross-services agreement," Aziz said.

Pakistan will charge for fuel, food, water, transportation, medical services, repairs and other services provided to US forces, who have been engaged in neighboring Afghanistan since early October.

Pakistan broke ranks with Afghanistan's hardline Taliban and sided with the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, blamed on Afghan-based Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Aziz also said that during his trip to Washington with President Pervez Musharraf, George W. Bush's administration pledged to write off $1 billion of Pakistan's $2.8 billion loan debt to the United States.

The United States has since September 11 promised Pakistan an aid package worth more than $1 billion, $600 million of which has already been delivered.

[VA Advogado]

Read much? They were on the side of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Hundreds of them are locked up here in the states, and even more are locked up in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

There was an american on the side of the Taliban too you stooge. But he didn't represent the policy of the American government, no more than you do or whatever government you work for. The Paks are heros in this. You are a liar.

[VA Advogado]

Musharaff is a hero. He even was nice enough to reach out and shake the hand of Indian's prime minister a few months ago. Then the Indians practially spit in his eye.

[Almondjoy]

Uh.. that's like me walking into your house and saying "Hey, I'm going to stay here as long as I need to and you need to feed me clothed me and let me watch tv all day and i'm not paying you a dime..." Sigh Paki is a poor enough country to begin with.. they don't have the money to screw around with. This is simple econcomics.. we have the money.. they don't.. we pay.

[AM2000]

It has also become well established in the events since 9/11 that those links have been cut off. You don't believe that the fact that a network of Al Qaeda training camps that most likely took many years and a ton of $$ to set up, have been destroyed, is just a smokescreen, do you? Even if there were links, you can bet those links are gone.

Pakistan betrayed Al Qaeda, and they're on our side now - even if they weren't to begin with.

[AM2000]

He even was nice enough to reach out and shake the hand of Indian's prime minister a few months ago.

That was just a pathetic P.R. stunt. From a policy perspective, he was unwilling and still is, to concede anything to the Indians. That's why they continue to spit in his eye. I can't blame 'em, they gotta look out for their own interests after all, and not let meaningless public relations ploys like that get in the way.

[Dog Gone]

Pakistan was the ONLY country to recognize the Taliban?

You really don't mind lying to support your agenda, do you?

Unfortunately for you, there are people here who know the truth.

[Madiuq]

"What's your agenda, anyway?"

I am pro-democracy, pro-secularism, pro-constitutional republic, pro-capitalism, and pro-progress. I am anti-Communist, and anti-Islamic fundamentalist. Therein lies my "agenda."

"I can understand being pro-India, but why is it so hard to temper that with a bit of common sense?"

Experience and observation has taught me that whenever Pakistan gets one dollar, 70 cents goes into the killing of innocent Indian civilians (now almost 80,000 dead), proxy wars in Kashmir, burgeoning and strenghtened relations with Communist China, threats to Israel and its national sovereignty, disruption of its non-Islamic neighbors who aren't Communist or Islamic, and weapons transfer of their ill-gotten "Islamic Nuclear Bomb" to such fun-packed and anti-Amercan nations such as Libya, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Indonesia, not to mention to North Korea, and China, all of which have threatned the National Security of the United States.

I guess maybe those are a few of the reasons.

[Madiuq]

I believe that once Pakistan begins to get richer and stronger, they will once again commence their jihad.

They hold any treaty they make with us far below their Koranic commands.

[Fintan]

Fine with me as long as we can bill France for bailing their sorry asses out of four years of Nazi occupation which they fought bravely by throwing their arms in the air.

[AM2000]

This is simple econcomics.. we have the money.. they don't.. we pay.

Sounds a lot like "“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!”

*grin*

[Madiuq]

Pakistan's friends killed 3,000 people on our soil, at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon. They have made it abundantly clear to Israel that they will attack them if they help India against Pakistani terror. Stay away from S Asia: Pakistan to Israel.

Most of their country hates us with a passion.

Yeah, I guess I really do see your logic.

[Madiuq]

"Pakistan betrayed Al Qaeda, and they're on our side now - even if they weren't to begin with."

See, the Pakistanis don't think that way. They are only doing this on a pro tempore basis. If we stop feeding the hungry animal, it will attack us. Pakistan is a leech of a country.

[Madiuq]

Well, then I guess it is obvious that the Republicans prefer Pakistan over India. I just wish they would just come out and say it.

[AM2000]

So they destroyed an elaborate terrorist network on a temporary basis? Fully knowing, that it would take years before they could even think of building it up again, and then years to actually build it? No, what we saw in their cooperation with our forces in Afghanistan wasn't temporary. It was a decisive, unilateral divorce from the forces they fostered. Musharraf is now the enemy as far as right-wing Islamists are concerned, and he knows it. For his own survival, he will play the part. And that's good enough for now.

[AM2000]

Why the hell should any American have a preference for one foreign country over another? Countries have interests, not allies.

[Madiuq]

Good point. But if he attacks India, or continues his terrorist campaign in India, then the United States should allow India to defend itself.

Or will the U.S. protect Pakistan from India?

[AM2000]

But if he attacks India, or continues his terrorist campaign in India, then the United States should allow India to defend itself.

See, your question betrays the most basic flaw with the current Indian leadership - they feel the need to be allowed to do things. They throw tantrums when the U.S. disapproves. If you guys feel the need to defend yourself, just do it. What is the deal with this constant gazing at big brother for his approval? It's demeans you, and gives us less reason to respect you.

[nocommies]

maybe the promise we made to begin with warrants a barf alert in and of itself!

[nocommies]

there were 3, who were the other 2???

[Dog Gone]

Saudi Arabia was one, and I believe the third was the United Arab Emirates. It was a dinky Gulf state.