U.S. Puts Military Aid To Pakistan On Wartime Footing (1.5 Billion this year)

[Nikki Stone1]

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\10\30\story_30-10-2009_pg7_10

LAHORE: Even though the Pakistani government is playing down the US role in its military operations against the in the Tribal Areas, Washington has quietly rushed hundreds of millions of dollars in arms, equipment and sophisticated sensors to Pakistan’s armed forces in recent months, senior US and Pakistani officials told the New York Times.

In a report published on Thursday, the NYT stated President Barack Obama had personally intervened during preparations for the military campaigns in Swat and South Waziristan, at the request of top army officials to speed the delivery of 10 Mi-17 troop transport helicopters.

The Pentagon had also hurried spare parts for Cobra helicopter gunships, night-vision goggles, body armour and eavesdropping equipment for the fight against the Taliban.

Meanwhile, US drones are feeding video images and target information to Pakistan ground commanders, and the Pentagon has quietly provided the Pakistani Air Force with high-resolution, infrared sensors for F-16 jet fighters, which Pakistan is using to guide bomb attacks on Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan.

Publicity

Pakistani officials were unwilling to publicise the aid because of the anti-America sentiment prevailing among the people, and express frustration about the pace and types of US aid, which will amount to about $1.5 billion this year, the report claimed....

More at the link.

[Louisiana1976]

1. I don't see why the Pakistanis would be complaining about getting 1.5 billion.

The person who should be complaining about this money going to Pakistan is the US taxpayer because there are so many places at home that could be using that 1.5 billion. New Orleans, for example. Affordable housing is a major problem there. Did you know that New Orleans has more vacant houses than Detroit or Flint? Just think what that 1.5 billion could do in New Orleans.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. +1 ......and thank you.

Great comments.