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.

[marvlus]

I'm not sure that this article warrants a "barf alert". This was a promise made to Pakistan in exchange for use of their airbases.

[Madiuq]

Yes, but the thought of monetary extraction for doing the right thing makes me very uncomfortable. What happens if the money runs out, or we are a little late with our payments?

Is Pakistan really reliable, especially when that country is teeming with hostile ISI agents and Islamic fanatics who hate us?

[Dog Gone]

It doesn't warrant a barf alert at all. This was part of the deal, and Pakistan isn't the wealthiest country in the world. The food, gasoline, and services they are providing are absolutely essential to our presence in the region.

[marvlus]

I agree that Pakistan is not the most reliable partner that we could have over there, but sometimes you have to work with what you got, in order to accomplish the goals you're after.

[vannrox]

Thank you Mr. Colin Powell.

[Madiuq]

It seems to me that Pakistan was two inches away from getting blown off the map, just like their brothers in the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and by the graces of the United States, they were spared a horribly and fiery death.

I do not believe Pakistan has the moral prerogative to "bill us" for anything. They should take our handouts and payments whenever we feel like remitting them, and if they bark, we should show them footage of what a Daisy Cutter looks like.

America and Europe have extremely short memories, and the Pakistanis know this. We should never let them forget that we gave them an easy way out of the mess they got themselves into, and therefore they need to be on their best behavior.

[AM2000]

You posted this before on the FR Front Page -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/629673/posts.

Why post it again, and why in Breaking News?

Oh, and the barf alert is unwarranted.

[VA Advogado]

Exactly.

[VA Advogado]

Is Pakistan really reliable, especially when that country is teeming with hostile ISI agents and Islamic fanatics who hate us?

The Packs have been more than generous in their efforts.

[VA Advogado]

I do not believe Pakistan has the moral prerogative to "bill us" for anything. They should take our handouts and payments whenever we feel like remitting them, and if they bark, we should show them footage of what a Daisy Cutter looks like.

So we should just steal the fuel and supplies from their private sector? How nice is that?

[Madiuq]

"The Packs have been more than generous in their efforts."

Especially when their agents took down our World Trade Center and killed 3,000 of our people?

Or did you forget that little iddy bitty part?

[VA Advogado]

Why post it again, and why in Breaking News?

Apparently Maddy thought it would get a better reaction. Guess Maddy was wrong.

[VA Advogado]

So you would have rather had them on the side of the Taliban when we invaded Afghanistan?

[Madiuq]

"Why post it again, and why in Breaking News?"

Because I love to see you get irked.

[Dog Gone]

Especially when their agents took down our World Trade Center and killed 3,000 of our people?

It's not nice to re-write history, just so you can blame a country that you hate so much.

[VA Advogado]

A quick search of your recent posts would indicate you are VERY anti Pakistan in the articles you've shared with us. If I didnt know any better, I bet you're an Indian. Probably from Kashmer.

[Madiuq]

"So you would have rather had them on the side of the Taliban when we invaded Afghanistan?"

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.

[AM2000]

I'm sure you do. I guess you also like to abuse your posting privileges :-) This is NOT breaking news, and is a duplicate post. And you can't claim to have not known, since YOU'RE the one doing the duplicating. What's your agenda, anyway? I can understand being pro-India, but why is it so hard to temper that with a bit of common sense?

[Madiuq]

"It's not nice to re-write history..."

It is well established Musharaff had links to both Al-Qaeda traning camps as well as being the only country to officially recognize and support the Taliban.

Not too bright are you?