Obama: U.S. should cut aid to Pakistan

[jefferson_dem]

Obama: U.S. should cut aid to Pakistan
December 29, 2007
BY ABDON M. PALLASH Political Reporter

MUSCATINE, Iowa — The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto became fodder for political barbs being traded by presidential candidates who have just six days left before next week’s Iowa caucuses.

Democrat Barack Obama said the United States should cut military aid to Pakistan until President Pervez Musharraf gets “serious” about fighting al-Qaida. Obama rival Hillary Clinton called for an international investigation of Bhutto’s killing, saying the Pakistani government might not be able to be trusted to handle the job.

Republican John McCain defended Musharraf against both of them, saying Musharraf restored “order” to Pakistan.

Obama and Clinton accused each other of trying to make political hay out of Bhutto’s death.

Obama said Musharraf “has not obeyed the constitution. As long as we are supporting somebody who the Pakistani people themselves believe has subverted democracy, that strengthens the hand of the Islamic militants.”

<SNIP>

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/718415,cst-nws-obama29.article

[suston96]

1. Obama says cut aid to Pakistan? Dumb suggestion.....

...the aid he is getting is our hold on him. Obama is wrong - a tribute to his inexperience in foreign matters.

Hillary is right - a neutral, international investigation - not by us - she says.

[Hippo_Tron]

3. So if we hold the strings why not pull them?

Obama is threatening to cut aid to Pakistan. Saying "we should threaten to cut aid" instead of "we should cut aid" just lays all of your cards on the table for Musharraf to see.

[gaiilonfong]

5. In other words Business as USUAL

Sorry no sale here.
This highlights the difference between Obama and Hillary/DLC

Pull out the money you see how fast Musharaff changes his tune. Obama knows the only reason Musharaff is still around in Pakistan is because of OUR HARD EARNED TAX MONEY.

Change...CHANGE the tactics, everything is about changhe, and Obama is the one to do it!

[Sensitivity]

9. A "neutral" investigation -- Dictator in charge, Courts stacked, security services the main

suspect in the assasination. Not really possible.

What was needed was some kind of election in which a truly popular leader would come to power
and have international support to remove the Murderous regime.

Now that option has been snuffed, and U.S. politicians mumble platitudes that ignore the reality on the
ground.

[sandnsea]

20. Hillary, Cheney, both support propping up the dictator

I don't understand how Democrats can be so blind.

[Didereaux]

2. Obama needs to sit down, take breather and THINK, he is making to many errors.

[gaiilonfong]

6. Obama is leading with new ideas and tactics

He has great advisors like Zebignew. That is who is advising him, and they are right. He dioesn't need to sit down he needs to lead. Finally someone with a spine to tell the truth!

[Didereaux]

10. new ideas and tactics also describe what this administration has done for 7 yrs!

[gaiilonfong]

13. LMAO..........How do you respond to that comment!

All I can say is Hillary supporters will say ANYTHING, anything to TRY and make Obama look bad.

Get ready for those bad flashbacks to the 90's IF Hillary gets the nomination. It ain't gonna' be purrty'!

[Didereaux]

16. Hate to disappoint, but I am an ARDENT supporter of BIDEN competence and intelligence count

[gaiilonfong]

17. uh-huh...OK n/t

[ClarkUSA]

18. Are you an ardent supporter of his IWR, Bankruptcy Bill and Patriot Act votes, too?

:eyes:

[polichick]

4. I agree that we should cut aid to Pakistan...

...and also to Israel ~ until they both do more to earn it.

[suston96]

7. We aren't the only country with money....

...cut Musharraf off and he will look elsewhere for money or whatever else he needs. We aren't the only game in town...or anywhere else.

Tell Obama to think these things out before making such dangerous proposals.

[gaiilonfong]

8. What other country will give that much? n/t

[suston96]

11. That much what? Money? Terrorist organizations sponsored by, say Saudi Arabia, etc.

....a country that has a need for cash will be tempted to offer some of its assets to any other country or countries with cash in hand.

Or, offer those assets to terrorist organizations who always seem to have plenty of cash. Yes, even as much as we have.

[gaiilonfong]

14. Um, the Saudi's already give Pakistan money. n/t

[suston96]

23. You don't get it...The Saudis give money to terrorists who then buy the WMDs from Pakistan....

... that way the Saudis don't look like....uh, never mind.

[Sensitivity]

12. "A dangerous proposal" to stop financing a MURDEROUS DICTATOR who is hated by the masses

[Evergreen Emerald]

15. and then what?

Clinton has a long term, thought out, plan to get Musharaff in line or else. No blank checks. Independent investigation.

His "plan" is simplistic, and short-sighted. Just like Richardson's who suggested he step down. Then what?

[ClarkUSA]

19. Richardson has made the same suggestion.

This proposal is a good use of carrots and sticks.

[TeamJordan23]

21. Richardson asked for Musharraf to resign. Obama did not. nm

[ClarkUSA]

22. Of course. However, I was referring to the cutting off of aid to Pakistan.

Richardson said both things, while Obama has only called for one.