Pakistan Seizes the Moment, Decriminalizes Corruption
This is amusing, I guess.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The U.S. Senate approved legislation Thursday to triple civilian financial aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over five years, underscoring the country's vital role in the war in Afghanistan and the broader fight against international terrorism.
The legislation had been held up for months amid partisan wrangling, and the breakthrough came as the Friends of Democratic Pakistan assistance forum met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, co-chaired by President Barack Obama.
As the U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan falters, cooperation from neighboring Pakistan is crucial because Pakistan is the headquarters, a refuge and a source of financing and other support for al Qaida, for Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and for other Afghan insurgent groups......
Separately on Thursday, an anti-bribery watchdog, Transparency International, warned that Pakistan has dismantled its laws against official corruption, a development that's likely to concern Washington and other countries that are pledging billions in additional aid to Pakistan.
No, it isn't going to concern Washington, and Pakistan knows it. As long as the generals ask for more troops and extremists find havens all over their country, we are a perfect way to make that dismantled law pay dividends. The Pakistanis, unlike us, know the virtues of expediency.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The U.S. Senate approved legislation Thursday to triple civilian financial aid to Pakistan to $7.5 billion over five years, underscoring the country's vital role in the war in Afghanistan and the broader fight against international terrorism.
The legislation had been held up for months amid partisan wrangling, and the breakthrough came as the Friends of Democratic Pakistan assistance forum met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, co-chaired by President Barack Obama.
As the U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan falters, cooperation from neighboring Pakistan is crucial because Pakistan is the headquarters, a refuge and a source of financing and other support for al Qaida, for Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and for other Afghan insurgent groups......
Separately on Thursday, an anti-bribery watchdog, Transparency International, warned that Pakistan has dismantled its laws against official corruption, a development that's likely to concern Washington and other countries that are pledging billions in additional aid to Pakistan.
No, it isn't going to concern Washington, and Pakistan knows it. As long as the generals ask for more troops and extremists find havens all over their country, we are a perfect way to make that dismantled law pay dividends. The Pakistanis, unlike us, know the virtues of expediency.
