Republican presidential candidates came down hard on Pakistan during a televised debate on Tuesday night, with Jon Huntsman terming it the country that ought to keep everybody up at night, Michele Bachmann calling it a nation that lies and Newt Gingrich demanding more drone attacks on Pakistans terror havens.
Texas Governor Rick Perry has been the most explosive on the issue, strongly reiterating his position that as president he would scrap all American aid to Pakistan until it proved its credentials as a nation that helps the United States meet its national security goals.
On Afghanistan, however, the candidates remained a divided lot, but the majority of them were opposed to a hurried withdrawal that could undermine US security interests. Front-runner Mitt Romney suggested that the Obama administration was pushing for a precipitous withdrawal, guided by artificial timelines.
Questioning the USs substantial aid to Pakistan, Perry commented: The bottom line is that they (Pakistan) have showed us time after time that they cant be trusted. And until Pakistan clearly shows that they have Americas best interests in mind, I would not send them one penny, period.
I think it is important for us to send the message to those across the world that, if you are not going to be an ally of the United States, do not expect a dime of our citizens money to be coming into your country. That is the way we change foreign policy, Perry said, adding that the idea of writing blank cheques to countries that are clearly not representing American interests is nonsensical.
Congresswoman Bachmann, although critical of Pakistan and described it as one of the most violent, unstable nations that there is, felt that Perry was being highly naïve. While Pakistan does everything possible that you could imagine wrong, it at the same time does share intelligence with the US regarding Al Qaeda, she said.
We have to recognise whats happening on the ground. These are nuclear weapons all across this nation. And, potentially, Al Qaeda could get hold of these weapons. These weapons could find their way out of Pakistan, into New York City or into Washington, DC, and a nuclear weapon could be set off in this city. Thats how serious this is. We have to maintain an American presence, Bachman said.
Perry retorted by saying that he was not advocating disengaging with Pakistan, adding: Weve got Afghanistan and India working in concert right now to leverage Pakistan. I think if we would create a trade zone in that part of the world, where you have all of those countries working together, that may be the answer to getting Pakistan to understand that they have to work with all of the countries in that region.
Romney, a strong critic of Perry in the debates, also disagreed with the latters aid prescription, asserting that US aid to Islamabad could help bring Pakistan into the 21st century, or the 20th century for that matter.
Gingrich, the former Speaker who has greatly advanced his campaign with some vigorous performance in the debates, sought a tough approach against Pakistan, saying: You tell the Pakistanis: Help us, or get out of the way, but dont complain if we kill people youre not willing to go after on your territory where you have been protecting them.
Pakistan is a concern, Huntsman said, commenting: Thats the country that ought to keep everybody up at night. You have not President Zardari in charge but General Kayani, over the military, which also is responsible for the ISI. Youve got the youngest demographic of 160 million people in Pakistan. Youve got a madrassa movement.
Youve got over 100 nuclear weapons. Youve got trouble on the border. Youve got a nation-state that is a candidate for failure. I say its a haven for bad behaviour, its a haven for training the people who seek to do us harm, Huntsman said.
Republicans slam Pak, divided on Afghan pullout
Texas Governor Rick Perry has been the most explosive on the issue, strongly reiterating his position that as president he would scrap all American aid to Pakistan until it proved its credentials as a nation that helps the United States meet its national security goals.
On Afghanistan, however, the candidates remained a divided lot, but the majority of them were opposed to a hurried withdrawal that could undermine US security interests. Front-runner Mitt Romney suggested that the Obama administration was pushing for a precipitous withdrawal, guided by artificial timelines.
Questioning the USs substantial aid to Pakistan, Perry commented: The bottom line is that they (Pakistan) have showed us time after time that they cant be trusted. And until Pakistan clearly shows that they have Americas best interests in mind, I would not send them one penny, period.
I think it is important for us to send the message to those across the world that, if you are not going to be an ally of the United States, do not expect a dime of our citizens money to be coming into your country. That is the way we change foreign policy, Perry said, adding that the idea of writing blank cheques to countries that are clearly not representing American interests is nonsensical.
Congresswoman Bachmann, although critical of Pakistan and described it as one of the most violent, unstable nations that there is, felt that Perry was being highly naïve. While Pakistan does everything possible that you could imagine wrong, it at the same time does share intelligence with the US regarding Al Qaeda, she said.
We have to recognise whats happening on the ground. These are nuclear weapons all across this nation. And, potentially, Al Qaeda could get hold of these weapons. These weapons could find their way out of Pakistan, into New York City or into Washington, DC, and a nuclear weapon could be set off in this city. Thats how serious this is. We have to maintain an American presence, Bachman said.
Perry retorted by saying that he was not advocating disengaging with Pakistan, adding: Weve got Afghanistan and India working in concert right now to leverage Pakistan. I think if we would create a trade zone in that part of the world, where you have all of those countries working together, that may be the answer to getting Pakistan to understand that they have to work with all of the countries in that region.
Romney, a strong critic of Perry in the debates, also disagreed with the latters aid prescription, asserting that US aid to Islamabad could help bring Pakistan into the 21st century, or the 20th century for that matter.
Gingrich, the former Speaker who has greatly advanced his campaign with some vigorous performance in the debates, sought a tough approach against Pakistan, saying: You tell the Pakistanis: Help us, or get out of the way, but dont complain if we kill people youre not willing to go after on your territory where you have been protecting them.
Pakistan is a concern, Huntsman said, commenting: Thats the country that ought to keep everybody up at night. You have not President Zardari in charge but General Kayani, over the military, which also is responsible for the ISI. Youve got the youngest demographic of 160 million people in Pakistan. Youve got a madrassa movement.
Youve got over 100 nuclear weapons. Youve got trouble on the border. Youve got a nation-state that is a candidate for failure. I say its a haven for bad behaviour, its a haven for training the people who seek to do us harm, Huntsman said.
Republicans slam Pak, divided on Afghan pullout
