AE:
What should be done -- that is in your opinion? If and when voicing your opinion, please keep in mind that this war on terror has crippled our country and by one estimate we have lost over US$ 40 billion in trade, tourism, infrastructure since 9/11. Not counting the wear and tear of our equipment, thousand of soldiers and civillians killed (five times the size of WTC casualties).
On top of this, the timing of Natural disasters (An earthquake, once in 100 year flood) has not helped our cause. Any third world country in normal times would have gone back atleast ten years.
It would be interesting to debate this based upon the ground reality, neccessity, and actual results.
This would not have come to pass had Musharraf not joined the so called war On Terror! But Bush, the Almighty had warned him that either you are with us or against us. And if you are against us we will bomb you to the stone age!
If Mush had the balls he would have called America's bluff and opted out. You think Bush really would have 'bombed Pakistan to the stone age'? Nuts!
So, had Pakistan not joined this 'war', then things would have been different. But then, Bush had also promised him those billions as a quid pro quo. Now who could resist that tempting offer? After all, Pakistan needed those dollars without which it would have been difficult to maintain a fairly healthy growth rate that existed prior to 9/11.
And then those dollars were also needed to bolster the defences against a numerically superior Indian Army on its Eastern front. For example:
1. Air defence radars despite the fact the terrorists fighting the Pakistani Army had no air attack capability!
2. Expanding nuclear capability including delivery systems.
3. F-16s.
4. Aircraft‐mounted armaments.
5. Anti‐ship and antimissile defense systems including P3C Orions.
Over half of the total funds—54.9 percent—were spent on fighter aircraft and weapons, over a quarter—26.62 percent—on support and other aircraft, and 10 percent on advanced weapons systems. These for fighting a band of brigands?
There is also clear evidence of corruption within the Pakistani army.
The United States provided $1.5 million to reimburse Pakistan for damage to Navy vehicles which had not been used in combat, $15 million for the Pakistani army to build bunkers for which there is no evidence that they exist, and about $30 million for Pakistani road‐building for which there is no such evidence either. Fifty‐five million dollars was provided for helicopter maintenance for the entire national helicopter fleet which was not performed. Pakistan continued to receive around $80 million per month for military operations during ceasefire periods when troops were in their barracks. U.S. officials visiting the FATA found Pakistani Frontier Corps units poorly equipped, one reporting that he saw members of the Corps “standing ... in the snow in sandals,” with several wearing World War I–era pith helmets and carrying barely functional Kalashnikov rifles with “just 10 rounds of ammunition each”. At one point, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf himself complained that Pakistan’s helicopters needed more U.S. spare parts and support, despite reports from U.S. military officials that the United States had provided $8 million worth of Cobra parts over the previous six months.
“The great majority” of the Coalition Support Funds given by the United States to reimburse Pakistan for counter terrorism operations was reportedly diverted to the Ministry of Finance, with only $300 million reaching the Army in the financial year ending 2008. This is evidence of corruption at the highest level. The result is that, after eight years of funding, many Pakistani troops in the FATA lack basic equipment such as sufficient ammunition, armored vests, and shoes. For many years, U.S. officials ignored clear evidence that the military was not using U.S. funds to further U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Though aid should not be stopped at this critical juncture, it is clear that the United States needs to change how it provides assistance to Pakistan. Aid must be broadened beyond Pakistan’s military.
The United States must ensure that funding it gives to Pakistan’s military is utilized for the right purposes.
More here....
U.S. Aid to Pakistan—U.S. Taxpayers Have Funded Pakistani Corruption - Harvard - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs