You don't have a dictator in place....so no support will be taken out. I don't know if you notice, there wasn't a "Phone Call" made to a dictator this time.
This was a democratic to another democratic country's diplomatic exchange. The US's National Security Adviser advises the POTUS on super critical stuff directly. So this event ALONE should tell many the relationship between two civilian governments now, vs. how it was before on Mushy's time.
NS has told her that he'll consult with the military and with the cabinet and will get back to the US on how Pakistan may be able to help, which means, Pakistan's Army (war torn) and the Air-force will need more equipment too. This is a serious threat for Pakistan as history has it, Afghanistan may become another crap-hole for global terrorism!! And that shouldn't be allowed by the world and the Pakistani government.
@MastanKhan : history is repeating itself (like 2002, but on a smaller scale), only difference is, Pakistan has a democratic government and the contact are made at the highest levels between the US and Pakistan. Let's see what gets out of it, in terms of support and equipment for Pakistan's AF and the Army.
Hi,
See the problem is a different one----. Pakistan is not happy with the U S with another threat of withholding of the funds---. I simply do not understand---this 1 Billion dollar is like one wipe TISSUE paper of the r-se for the united states---and it makes such a big issue out of it for no reason at all---that one wonders at time---what happened to common sense---what happened to the brains of those in the senate or congress or the white house.
The U S knows very well----that its relationship with Pakistan is in extreme hot waters---there is no other country that would do for the U S what Pakistan has---other than Britain and possibly Australia. Not even Israel would come close to the utility that Pakistan provides.
The wounds of salala check post attack and Osama Bin Laden issue have not healed with the pak military---so I do not know what to really expect out of it. This current threat by senate to hold 300 million did not sit well.
Pakistanis also hate the U S for forcing Asif Zardari over them---the most corrupt person alive.
Now---I understand that the U S can use india as a proxy to agitate Pakistan to do the bidding of the U S----.
But I think where the U S has failed is in marketing itself in Pakistan----. Even the ex ambassador is complaining in emails to Clinton that nobody talks about the aid that the U S sent---not even the NGO's----.
How can a country that believes in advertisement---weekend specials---coupons---labour day sale---president's day sale---Christmas and thanks giving sale---black Friday and cyber Monday sales---how can those forget to market the public of Pakistan.
I wrote to Munter---but I guess it just got deleted by a lowly employee---. So---Viper---I do not know what to tell you---.
People talk about that one phone call---and as a Pakistani---I am grateful to Musharraf for what he did---. Richard Armitage was a Linebacker in his college days---so when he told what he told Musharraf---there was no malice in it---he was just the messenger boy telling him that we will be calling---straight and simple---spoken like a true linebacker----but Pakistanis did not understand that---.
Let me take you back 750 years ago---. An incidence happened at Otrar----Genghis Khan sent an envoy asking the Governor to punish those who committed the crime---. Supposedly the messengers were killed by the Governor---. He then sent messenger to the Khalifah---The Great Shah----asking for retribution---in his arrogance and being pumped by his Mullahs---he executed the messengers as well---.
When Ghenghis found that out---he says to hid brothers---does the Shah not understand what I am going to do to him----! The history books tell us about the total destruction of all of the Islamic empire over half of asia.
Musharraf understood the message very well---being a general---he also knew how weak the Pak military was---he also knew that the americans were really looking forward to pummelling the pak military---because the pak military commanders had passed under hand threat in the past to the U S military that hey are not like the iraqi army---.
So--regardless ---what everyone else says--I am indebted to Musharraf for that---.
We will see in a few days how things turn up----. But I feel that there is more un-predictability now than before in the relationship.