Pakistan Faces a Less Friendly U.S. Congress

During a visit to Pakistan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signals to leaders that their support in Congress is waning. . .

Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made it clear in a visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, that the support enjoyed in recent years from Washington is waning, in light of Pakistan's continued wavering on the issue of fundamentalist radicals. Although frustration is present in both parties in Washington, the Bush administration continues to say that they are satisfied with Musharraf's efforts to control fundamentalism in Pakistan. US officials say nearly 140 suicide attacks occurred Afghanistan in 2006, as compared with 27 in 2005, and blame the uptick in part on a controversial deal Islamabad signed with Taliban militants inside Pakistan.

Democrats in Congress have become increasingly critical of Pakistan's role in increased violence against Coalition troops in Afghanistan, as well as civilians. Recently, a bill was introduced which would put sanctions on military aid to Pakistan in the future, if it doesn't show a read effort to deal with the increasing power of radicals within its own borders; Washington believes that these radicals are instrumental in aiding the Taliban in its continued interference in Afghanistan - a country which it formerly held in oppression. If enacted, the bill threatens to alter a relationship, which, although flagging on its rhetorical surface, has been well fortified by cash. Since 9/11, Pakistan has received $1.5 billion in direct security-related assistance, in addition to billions for counterterrorism efforts – about $66 million per month. All told, Pakistan received the lion's share of $6.65 billion appropriated to the Defense Department for coalition support payments to "Pakistan, Jordan, and other key cooperating nations" between 2002 and 2007, according to Congressional reports.

That funding is not likely to be cut, most observers agree. The stakes are too high, and the Bush administration, they add, is unwaveringly wedded to Pervez Musharraf's regime as the most effective ally in stopping terrorism in the region.

If they aren't doing all they can to cooperate, we sure are giving a lot of U.S. taxpayer funded reward to them for nothing. . . .