The Quaker Lobby
The Friends Committee on National Legislation applauded Senator Joe Biden’s statement of opposition to the Bush Administration’s decision to sell F-16 fighter-bomber jets to Pakistan in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. The Quaker lobby has always stood firmly opposed to the provision of military aid and weapons sales and considered the timing of this deal outrageous.
In early November, following the suspension of democratic government in Pakistan by President Musharraf, both Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates indicated that the administration was going to carefully scrutinize our military aid program with Pakistan, including Pakistan’s purchase of F-16 jets from the Pentagon’s Foreign Military Sales program.
On December 26, Bush signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act into law. In this law, Congress appropriated $350 million in Economic Support Funds and an additional $300 in Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan. Of the latter, all but $50 million became immediately available upon enactment of the law, with the remainder freeing up only when the Secretary of State is able to certify to Congress that the Government of Pakistan has restored the constitution and the judiciary and released political detainees and journalists.
Benazir Bhutto was killed the day after the law was enacted, and four days later the Pentagon announced it was issuing a $500 million contract to Lockheed Martin for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter-bomber jets.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation is deeply troubled by the Bush regime’s decision to move forward with a high profile arms sales contract while questions about President Musharraf’s possible role in the assassination remained unexplored and chaos abounded in the streets.
If a coup, suspension of democratic institutions, allegations of involvement in the assassination of a political rival, and chaos in the streets do not merit a cutoff of military assistance, what would?
Equally troubling is the sheer magnitude of military aid being provided to Pakistan and the appearance that no one within our government has a firm grasp on the totality of our aid. A press article reported that Defense Department officials estimate that Pakistan has received about $9.6 billion in federal funds, weapons and training since 2001, most of it military assistance.
At a minimum, the full range of military aid programs for Pakistan should be subjected to careful scrutiny via a public hearing, and the decision-making process on the F-16 contract should be examined. The Quaker’s encouraged Senator Biden to hold hearings on these important questions as soon as possible.
In early November, following the suspension of democratic government in Pakistan by President Musharraf, both Condoleezza Rice and Robert Gates indicated that the administration was going to carefully scrutinize our military aid program with Pakistan, including Pakistan’s purchase of F-16 jets from the Pentagon’s Foreign Military Sales program.
On December 26, Bush signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act into law. In this law, Congress appropriated $350 million in Economic Support Funds and an additional $300 in Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan. Of the latter, all but $50 million became immediately available upon enactment of the law, with the remainder freeing up only when the Secretary of State is able to certify to Congress that the Government of Pakistan has restored the constitution and the judiciary and released political detainees and journalists.
Benazir Bhutto was killed the day after the law was enacted, and four days later the Pentagon announced it was issuing a $500 million contract to Lockheed Martin for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter-bomber jets.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation is deeply troubled by the Bush regime’s decision to move forward with a high profile arms sales contract while questions about President Musharraf’s possible role in the assassination remained unexplored and chaos abounded in the streets.
If a coup, suspension of democratic institutions, allegations of involvement in the assassination of a political rival, and chaos in the streets do not merit a cutoff of military assistance, what would?
Equally troubling is the sheer magnitude of military aid being provided to Pakistan and the appearance that no one within our government has a firm grasp on the totality of our aid. A press article reported that Defense Department officials estimate that Pakistan has received about $9.6 billion in federal funds, weapons and training since 2001, most of it military assistance.
At a minimum, the full range of military aid programs for Pakistan should be subjected to careful scrutiny via a public hearing, and the decision-making process on the F-16 contract should be examined. The Quaker’s encouraged Senator Biden to hold hearings on these important questions as soon as possible.
posted by Jim O'Leary | 12:10 AM
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