$5 Billion to Pakistan and Nothing in Return

Posted on May 21, 2007

A new report from the New York Times says that the U.S. has paid Pakistan large amount of money to help the country fight terrorists. So what has Pakistan done? Why, they've cut down on patrols for terrorists, of course.

The United States is continuing to make large payments of roughly $1 billion a year to Pakistan for what it calls reimbursements to the country's military for conducting counterterrorism efforts along the border with Afghanistan, even though Pakistan's president decided eight months ago to slash patrols through the area where Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are most active.
The monthly payments, called coalition support funds, are not widely advertised. Buried in public budget numbers, the payments are intended to reimburse Pakistan's military for the cost of the operations. So far, Pakistan has received more than $5.6 billion under the program over five years, more than half of the total aid the United States has sent to the country since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, not counting covert funds.
Some American military officials in the region have recommended that the money be tied to Pakistan's performance in pursuing Al Qaeda and keeping the Taliban from gaining a haven from which to attack the government of Afghanistan. American officials have been surprised by the speed at which both organizations have gained strength in the past year.
But Bush administration officials say no such plan is being considered, despite new evidence that the Pakistani military is often looking the other way when Taliban fighters retreat across the border into Pakistan, ignoring calls from American spotters to intercept them. There is also at least one American report that Pakistani security forces have fired in support of Taliban fighters attacking Afghan posts.
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The White House would not directly answer the question of why Pakistan is being paid the same very large amount after publicly declaring that it is significantly cutting back on its patrols in the most important border area. But Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for Stephen J. Hadley, the national security adviser, emphasized Pakistan's strategic importance in the region.

So, let's see. We've given $5.6 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money to Musharraf and what have we gotten in return? Apparently, not much. Without the money, Musharraf is likely to be overthrown, as he has been unable to stop the most radical elements of his country from growing in power. We keep him in power, but he does nothing to help fight terrorism. We allow him to be deposed, and someone even worse will likely fill his shoes. Another lose-lose situation for the U.S., thanks to President Bush.