Senator John Kerry is one of those well intentioned individuals who is not in synch with the reality on the ground in Afghanistan. Senator Kerry thinks that the Kerry Lugar bill is will reduce Anti-Americanism in Pakistan He is certainly not aware of backlash in Pakistan.
The Kerry Lugar bill–his greatest accomplishment is peanuts and not enough. It is too little too late. Pakistan needs trade access and an FTA. The $1.5 Billion will be spent on building a US embassy and fattening the pockets of Ambassador Patterson’s favorite NGO (Non Governmental Organization). Very little of the aid will actually make it to Pakistan. Kerry-Lugar Peanuts: 50% of US Aid fills pockets of US consultants. There is enormous criticism of the Kerry Lugar bill in Pakistan because of the silly comments that have been added to the bill. These so called “conditions” are totally enforceable
Senator Kerry’s comments about the ISI are exactly the type of Anti-Pakistan comments which have exacerbated the situation in Pakistan. It this exactly this type of arrogance and hubris on the part of the American Administration which has created a tsunami of Anti-Americanism in Pakistan. Pakistanis Continue to Reject wrong war policies of the U.S
The US faces total collapse in Afghanistan. This is a map of Talibanistan: 2009 Afghan map showing Taliban control
Senator John F. Kerry is holding his third in a series of Foreign Relations Committee hearings on Afghanistan today, this one focused on the war’s impact on neighboring Pakistan.
“President Obama and his team are working hard to develop the right strategy for Afghanistan,” Kerry said in a statement. “Whatever strategy we adopt, it must recognize that the actions we take in Afghanistan will continue to have a profound impact on neighboring Pakistan. It’s important, therefore, that the Committee examine the war in Afghanistan from a regional perspective.”
His opening statement is below, along with the list of witnesses.
As the Globe reported Wednesday, Kerry is trying to carve out a significant role on US policy in Afghanistan as Obama comes up with a new strategy and decides whether to approve a military request for more reinforcements.
Kerry has also weighed in on Pakistan. Thursday, the House gave final approval to a bill that he championed in the Senate that would give Pakistan $1.5 billion in aid a year over the next five years focused on democratic, economic, and social development programs. Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.
Obama’s Neocon: Bruce Reidel’s rancid racism against Pakistan 
Kerry issued a statement congratulating the House on its vote.
“The final version of the bill is the product of several months of intense consultation and compromise between the Chambers, and I am delighted that we were able to forge this landmark piece of legislation on a bipartisan, bicameral basis,” he said. “This bill reaffirms the depth of America’s long-term commitment to the people and Government of Pakistan. By tripling past years’ level of non-military aid to $1.5 billion a year for fiscal years 2010 to 2014, we demonstrate our steadfast support for Pakistani efforts to combat violent extremism, defeat al-Qaeda and solidify democratic government.”Kerry calls hearing on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 1, 2009 10:31 AM
In a lopsided policy the US wasted $143 Billion in aid to Afghanistan and gave Pakistan $5 Billion. Egyptian loans of around $38 Billion were forgiven. Pakistani losses due to GWOT calculated by the US DOD were $20 Billion per year in 2001. These losses have quadrupled. Aid to Pakistan is less than aid to Afghanistan. This has to be balanced with need. The US uses Pakistani infrastructure to transport supplies without building or even maintaining the roads.
Pakistanis Continue to Reject wrong war policies of the U.S . Pakistan needs Trade First, not puny aid packages that end up in Washington. Pakistan needs Trade First not Aid FirstHalf of a aid stays in the US, and about 25% is wasted on administrative and logisitcal expenses. 25% of what is intended for the people is given to the Ambassador’s favorite NGO. After US and Pakistani corrupt officials get their paws on the amount left over, there is almost nothing that actually makes it to the people. What Pakistan needs is a Marshall Plan which would build the infrastructure and improve the standard of living of the people.
- How to help poor Pakistanis, avoid enriching corrupt officials and save US taxpayer money. Eliminate trade barriers on Pakistani goods
- Pakistan’s “Do More” list to the USA
- Trade First not Aid First
American Aid is a waste of money. The US should see how the Chinese spend their money--creating immense goodwill
McChrystal malarkey on Afghanistan hides incompetence of NATO, ISAF & US forces 
KERRY’S STATEMENT
Next week marks the ninth anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. A Pentagon officer said the other day that we haven’t been fighting there for eight years—we’ve been fighting for one year, eight times in a row. That needs to change.
Some of our objectives have remained steadfast – defeat Al Qaeda, deny them safe havens, and insure the stability of the region. Others have fluctuated. In the previous administration, both the goals and the strategy lurched in directions that confused our troops, our allies and our partners.
None of those partners is more affected by our actions in Afghanistan than Pakistan. And none is more vital to our national security. Pakistan is a democracy of 170 million people, with a large nuclear arsenal and a major challenge from extremists within its borders.
It’s no secret that the relationship between our countries has suffered its share of strains. Many Pakistanis believe the United States has exploited them for strategic goals. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that two out of three Pakistanis regard the United States as an enemy. Only one in 10 describe us as a partner.
From our side, it has been difficult to build trust with Pakistan’s military and intelligence services over the years because our interests have not always been aligned and because ties between the ISI and Taliban remain troubling.
We need to fix this relationship. The Senate took a major step in doing that last week by passing legislation that Senator Lugar and I introduced to triple non-military assistance to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year for the next five years. The House passed the bill yesterday, and President Obama has pledged to sign it.
Are bigoted Bruce Reidel’s diatribes still valid for Pakistan & Afghanistan? 
Mr. Bruce Reidel’s irrational rhetoric exacerbates US-Pakistani relations
This is a landmark achievement, but it is not a panacea. The money will help build roads and improve schools and health care. But it will not solve Pakistan’s problems. Only Pakistanis can do that. But Kerry-Lugar signals our determination to put our relationship on a new foundation, with the aspirations of the Pakistani people front and center.
Just as we strengthen our civilian ties, we must understand that our actions in Afghanistan have profound effects on the security situation across the Durand Line. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past when we pulled out of Afghanistan in 1989 and left the job undone. A flood of guns, drugs and refugees swept over Pakistan and its leaders reacted by supporting the Taliban and other militant groups.
President Obama and his team are working to develop the right strategy for Afghanistan. Only then can we make the right decision on resources. That decision must reflect our commitment to the Afghan people and to the security of the United States.
But let me be clear: No matter what strategy we adopt, it must recognize that the actions we take in Afghanistan will have direct repercussions in Pakistan.
We are here this morning to examine those potential repercussions. We want to understand the implications and impacts of the scenarios under discussion at the White House and elsewhere.
For example, we need to know what the impact on Pakistan would be of a major increase in U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Would successful nation building in Afghanistan translate into greater stability in Pakistan and elsewhere across the region?
The debate must extend beyond the preoccupation with troop numbers. We need to know whether we can build a legitimate government in Afghanistan, particularly in the restive Pashtun belt in the east and southeast that is of greatest concern to Pakistan. And we need to know how the Pakistani military and intelligence services might react to scaling down our presence in Afghanistan.
This is the Committee’s third session designed to test the underlying assumptions about the war in Afghanistan and stimulate the kind of debate that will clarify our goals and strategies. Next week, we will hear about how to deal with the worldwide threat from Al Qaeda.
This debate and the clarity that we hope results are essential if we are going to use our military resources wisely and obtain the consent and cooperation of the American people and our allies in NATO, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Finally, our actions in Afghanistan will influence events in Pakistan and we must take that into account. But the ultimate choices about the country’s future will be made by the Pakistanis themselves.
The witnesses this morning are well positioned to help us answer these and other questions and I want to thank all of you for coming.
HEARING WITNESSES
Dr. Maleeha Lodhi is the former high commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom, and former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States. Presently, she is a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center.
Milt Bearden is a former Central Intelligence Agency station chief in Islamabad.
Steve Coll is President of the New America Foundation and a staff writer atThe New Yorker magazine. Kerry calls hearing on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 1, 2009 10:31 AM
Monitoring & Reversing Anti-Americanism-Some Solutions Pakistanis Continue to Reject wrong war policies of the U.S
Pakistan needs FTA, ROZ & end to high Tariffs from US, EU & Japan
PEANUTS: Puny US Aid to Pakistan is too little too late. Marshall Plan, & Trade concessions missing
Reconstruction Opportunity Zones and FTA with USA 
End rendition. Find Missing Pakistanis. Repatriate Dr. Afia 
Gitmo is the best recruiting tool Bush could have gifted the terrorists 
Prisoner 650: Dead Nation wants sister Dr. Aafia Siddiqui freed 
Selective Amnesia of Americans: Pakistan is the most mistreated friend in the world
How long can the wink wink nod nod farce of deadly drones go on 
US aid to Pakistan should be Non-Transactional grants not loans 
An FTA and elimination of tariffs on Pakistani textiles would enable Pakistan to export $15 worth of textiles. Better than any aid package this would reverse extremism
In a lopsided policy the US wasted $143 Billion in aid to Afghanistan and gave Pakistan $5 Billion. Egyptian loans of around $38 Billion were forgiven. Pakistani losses due to GWOT calculated by the US DOD were $20 Billion per year in 2001. These losses have quadrupled. Aid to Pakistan is less than aid to Afghanistan. This has to be balanced with need. The US uses Pakistani infrastructure to transport supplies without building or even maintaining the roads.
Joe Biden triples US aid to Pakistan:-too little too late. Aid should be 20 times that number to compensate for usage of bases, roads and lost opportunity. Aid should create projects not be given to corrupt politicians. Reverse tracking should ensure that aid is not syphoned by corrupt politicians to Swiss accounts 
Needs of the Pakistan nation: These basics have to be addressed to win the hearts and minds of Pakistanis
Afghanistan-Pakistan forgotten by Joe Biden 
Holbrooke facing Khyber Poltergeist & Ganges hobgoblin
![Wall Street - Money Never Dies [Zardari Version]](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5045452425_aa4d58c7a5_m.jpg){kind=small}
