US Congress acts to suspend bid to upgrade Pakistan fighter fleet
Updated at: 1222 PST, Wednesday, July 30, 2008
WASHINGTON: The US Congress moved Tuesday to suspend a bid by President George W. Bush's administration to shift millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading Islamabad's F-16 fighter jets.
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," said a joint statement by Democratic lawmakers Howard Berman and Nita Lowey, who head key panels in the House of Representatives.
"We are concerned that the administration's proposal to use military assistance to pay for the F-16 upgrades will divert funds from more effective counterterrorism tools like helicopters, TOW missiles, and night-vision goggles," said Berman, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, and Lowey, chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee on foreign programs.
The White House said last week that it wanted to shift 230 million dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading Pakistan's aging F-16 fighter jets.
The move, it said, was aimed at easing fiscal pressures faced by the Pakistani government stemming partly from soaring food and energy costs.
US lawmakers were reportedly angered by the move.
And this is what we pulled back the IAEA proposal against India for. Bravo!
Aur chaat lain PDF per democracy kay bhatijay or bhateejian democracy ko. The PPP/PML-N administration is like a forest fire of stupidity and incompetence.
Aur chaat lain PDF per democracy kay bhatijay or bhateejian democracy ko. The PPP/PML-N administration is like a forest fire of stupidity and incompetence.
When you have two bit crooks, thugs and liars in power and they're supported blindly people ranting democracy. This is exactly what you get. That goon, Gilani, has gone with his full entourage and all holding out their begger bowls. When they do get some money, all they would do is print more Pak Rupees is and fill their pockets. Drain the wealth of Pakistan and inject torturous inflation, inflicting fatal blows to our economy.
Such people will have a death which will be horrifying, bone chilling and they would have their bodies dragged on to the streets and will be mutilated. Those who loot and plunder the wealth of Pakistan and oppress the poor people of Pakistan, fill their bellies with the finest food in the white house, while we starve of hunger. Such people will not be mercilessly slaughtered, so will their families be facing the same fate.
For if they had even an ounce of consciousness, morals, Imaan and fear of Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah. Then they would've thought of what deliverence they would bring down upon their families as well. Personally, I would not be showing any mercy and would avenge the blood and sweat of my fellow countrymen. The day is not that far and it will be one terrifying deliverence.
Count down has begun ....
Such people will have a death which will be horrifying, bone chilling and they would have their bodies dragged on to the streets and will be mutilated. Those who loot and plunder the wealth of Pakistan and oppress the poor people of Pakistan, fill their bellies with the finest food in the white house, while we starve of hunger. Such people will not be mercilessly slaughtered, so will their families be facing the same fate.
For if they had even an ounce of consciousness, morals, Imaan and fear of Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah. Then they would've thought of what deliverence they would bring down upon their families as well. Personally, I would not be showing any mercy and would avenge the blood and sweat of my fellow countrymen. The day is not that far and it will be one terrifying deliverence.
Count down has begun ....
QUOTE(bismark @ Jul 30 2008, 01:51 PM) 
US Congress acts to suspend bid to upgrade Pakistan fighter fleet
Updated at: 1222 PST, Wednesday, July 30, 2008
WASHINGTON: The US Congress moved Tuesday to suspend a bid by President George W. Bush's administration to shift millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading Islamabad's F-16 fighter jets.
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," said a joint statement by Democratic lawmakers Howard Berman and Nita Lowey, who head key panels in the House of Representatives.
"We are concerned that the administration's proposal to use military assistance to pay for the F-16 upgrades will divert funds from more effective counterterrorism tools like helicopters, TOW missiles, and night-vision goggles," said Berman, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, and Lowey, chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee on foreign programs.
The White House said last week that it wanted to shift 230 million dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading Pakistan's aging F-16 fighter jets.
The move, it said, was aimed at easing fiscal pressures faced by the Pakistani government stemming partly from soaring food and energy costs.
US lawmakers were reportedly angered by the move.
Updated at: 1222 PST, Wednesday, July 30, 2008
WASHINGTON: The US Congress moved Tuesday to suspend a bid by President George W. Bush's administration to shift millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading Islamabad's F-16 fighter jets.
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," said a joint statement by Democratic lawmakers Howard Berman and Nita Lowey, who head key panels in the House of Representatives.
"We are concerned that the administration's proposal to use military assistance to pay for the F-16 upgrades will divert funds from more effective counterterrorism tools like helicopters, TOW missiles, and night-vision goggles," said Berman, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, and Lowey, chairwoman of the appropriations subcommittee on foreign programs.
The White House said last week that it wanted to shift 230 million dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading Pakistan's aging F-16 fighter jets.
The move, it said, was aimed at easing fiscal pressures faced by the Pakistani government stemming partly from soaring food and energy costs.
US lawmakers were reportedly angered by the move.
When it comes to action, there is no such thing as the US Congres. So, the question is who saiys what when.
Berman = democrat, california, house of representatives, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee
Lowey = democrat, new york state, house of representatives, chair woman of the House appropriations subcommittee on foreign programs, member of the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Appropriations Committee
vice:
George W Bush, republica, Texan, president (lame duck, 2nd term, outbound)
given :
Report: $6 billion in aid to Pakistan poorly tracked (cnn)
Audit questions oversight of aid to Pakistan (associated press)
U.S. Officials See Waste in Billions Sent to Pakistan
in an election year!
Hardly surprising...
There will be opposition from the executive branch ofcourse (Bush). Pakistan unfortunately is disabled by the fact that we have absolutely incompetent fools in power now. Has there been any reaction over this news by the Pakistani government?
QUOTE(ZPak @ Jul 30 2008, 01:24 PM)
There will be opposition from the executive branch ofcourse (Bush). Pakistan unfortunately is disabled by the fact that we have absolutely incompetent fools in power now. Has there been any reaction over this news by the Pakistani government?
Don't worry boys, U.S law makers have learned a thing or two from their third world allies, like having your cake , eating it, and being paid for enjoying it !
Not long ago, the supply of F-16s to Pakistan was a dead issue............know what I mean !!!!!!!
Between the lines, everything is (eventually) honkydory .
Pakistani F-16 upgrade will not affect counterinsurgency funding, says US
The US State Department has denied that the financing of mid-life upgrades for Pakistan's F-16 fleet will divert funds away from counterinsurgency operations against the Taliban.
Acting Deputy Spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos confirmed in a 24 July briefing that USD226 million-USD227 million of the USD300 million equipment and training budget earmarked for Pakistan in 2008 was destined for the F-16s.
However, he said that this money "was already allocated for other updates on different airframes in Pakistan" and that the work would help Pakistan to "effectively [employ] these aircraft in support of ground operations against terrorist groups".
Explaining what the upgrade would involve, Gallegos said: "What we're looking at is advanced avionics and radar upgrades, and communications and targeting systems that will enable real-time communication with ground forces that will generate ground position data that can be used to direct guided munitions to a target."
The US Congress requires that the USD300 million be spent on counterterrorism and law enforcement, leading to questions about whether Pakistan was actually using its F-16s to launch airstrikes against terrorist targets, rather than simply as a counterweight against India.
Caption: The US is expecting Pakistan to use its F-16s to strike Taliban targets in return for funding mid-life upgrades (Jane's/Patrick Allen)
Source: http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw080729_1_n.shtml
The US State Department has denied that the financing of mid-life upgrades for Pakistan's F-16 fleet will divert funds away from counterinsurgency operations against the Taliban.
Acting Deputy Spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos confirmed in a 24 July briefing that USD226 million-USD227 million of the USD300 million equipment and training budget earmarked for Pakistan in 2008 was destined for the F-16s.
However, he said that this money "was already allocated for other updates on different airframes in Pakistan" and that the work would help Pakistan to "effectively [employ] these aircraft in support of ground operations against terrorist groups".
Explaining what the upgrade would involve, Gallegos said: "What we're looking at is advanced avionics and radar upgrades, and communications and targeting systems that will enable real-time communication with ground forces that will generate ground position data that can be used to direct guided munitions to a target."
The US Congress requires that the USD300 million be spent on counterterrorism and law enforcement, leading to questions about whether Pakistan was actually using its F-16s to launch airstrikes against terrorist targets, rather than simply as a counterweight against India.
Caption: The US is expecting Pakistan to use its F-16s to strike Taliban targets in return for funding mid-life upgrades (Jane's/Patrick Allen)
Source: http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw080729_1_n.shtml
QUOTE(SUNNY92 @ Jul 30 2008, 02:59 PM)
Don't worry boys, U.S law makers have learned a thing or two from their third world allies, like having your cake , eating it, and being paid for enjoying it !
Not long ago, the supply of F-16s to Pakistan was a dead issue............know what I mean !!!!!!!
Between the lines, everything is (eventually) honkydory .
Not long ago, the supply of F-16s to Pakistan was a dead issue............know what I mean !!!!!!!
Between the lines, everything is (eventually) honkydory .
I think you hit the nail on the head...I think this was a very clever move by Bush and his cronies....
Publicly divert money away from WOT spending and say that we are giving it to them for F-16s...which we already know many in the congress have objected to...as per their utility in the WOT....they would have never gone for it.
So now what happens...the Democrat dominated congress is gonna say.."Hmm....Bush and buddies messed up"..."not to worry we will fix it"... "lets put the money where it belongs"..."get them helicopters"..."missiles".."and NVGs".... so they will give it show that they are doing the "right thing", where as Bush wasnt.....
This may be a blessing in disguise....
Does anyone really care that much?
As long as we haven't paid for them, i don't care. I expect them to backstab us at every turn.
As long as we haven't paid for them, i don't care. I expect them to backstab us at every turn.
http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2008/...19211217449508/
U.S. lawmakers hold Pakistani F-16 plans
Published: July 30, 2008 at 4:25 PM
WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers requested a hold on plans in Washington to release $200 million from counter-terrorism resources to upgrade Pakistani F-16 fighter jets.
Reps. Howard Berman, D-Calif., and Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., issued a joint statement expressing concern the proposed funds for the F-16s would divert resources away from "more effective counter-terrorism tools like helicopters, (tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided) missiles and night-vision goggles."
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," the statement continued.
The United States has been urging Pakistan to step up its counter-terrorism efforts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the border with Afghanistan, believed to be a stronghold for the leadership of al-Qaida.
The plans to divert funds raised questions on Capitol Hill last week regarding the applicability of F-16s in the counter-terrorist campaign in the region.
The joint statement from Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Lowey said a foreign operations bill passed in Congress last December "specifically required that military aid to Pakistan be used for counter-terrorism and law enforcement activities directed against al-Qaida and the Taliban."
The lawmakers said they would ask Congress to provide Pakistan with $200 million in aid to help the government in Islamabad cope with rising food and energy prices.
U.S. lawmakers hold Pakistani F-16 plans
Published: July 30, 2008 at 4:25 PM
WASHINGTON, July 30 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers requested a hold on plans in Washington to release $200 million from counter-terrorism resources to upgrade Pakistani F-16 fighter jets.
Reps. Howard Berman, D-Calif., and Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., issued a joint statement expressing concern the proposed funds for the F-16s would divert resources away from "more effective counter-terrorism tools like helicopters, (tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided) missiles and night-vision goggles."
"We have requested a hold on the administration's planned reprogramming pending additional information," the statement continued.
The United States has been urging Pakistan to step up its counter-terrorism efforts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the border with Afghanistan, believed to be a stronghold for the leadership of al-Qaida.
The plans to divert funds raised questions on Capitol Hill last week regarding the applicability of F-16s in the counter-terrorist campaign in the region.
The joint statement from Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Lowey said a foreign operations bill passed in Congress last December "specifically required that military aid to Pakistan be used for counter-terrorism and law enforcement activities directed against al-Qaida and the Taliban."
The lawmakers said they would ask Congress to provide Pakistan with $200 million in aid to help the government in Islamabad cope with rising food and energy prices.
Don't worry boys, U.S law makers have learned a thing or two from their third world allies, like having your cake , eating it, and being paid for enjoying it !
Sunny92 ... Quote of the day.
Sunny92 ... Quote of the day.
Wasn't ACM tell that Pakistan will upgrade its F-16 from Turkey and not from USA? I think this might be the reason as we did not give them BUSINESS they don't want to give us credit for those upgrades.
QUOTE(PakShaheen @ Jul 31 2008, 10:16 AM)
Wasn't ACM tell that Pakistan will upgrade its F-16 from Turkey and not from USA? I think this might be the reason as we did not give them BUSINESS they don't want to give us credit for those upgrades.
THe whole thing has little to do with Pakistan and a lot with internal US politics. (duh > election year)
I sugest US and its allies remove fighterjets from Iran and Afghanistan cause it is more effective to fight there with NVG etc... What a crap.
Sends shivers down my spine. "lalach bohat boori cheez hai". We never seem to get the carrot, its always dangled in front of us.
QUOTE(Orbitor10 @ Jul 30 2008, 09:36 AM)
When you have two bit crooks, thugs and liars in power and they're supported blindly people ranting democracy. This is exactly what you get. That goon, Gilani, has gone with his full entourage and all holding out their begger bowls. When they do get some money, all they would do is print more Pak Rupees is and fill their pockets. Drain the wealth of Pakistan and inject torturous inflation, inflicting fatal blows to our economy.
Such people will have a death which will be horrifying, bone chilling and they would have their bodies dragged on to the streets and will be mutilated. Those who loot and plunder the wealth of Pakistan and oppress the poor people of Pakistan, fill their bellies with the finest food in the white house, while we starve of hunger. Such people will not be mercilessly slaughtered, so will their families be facing the same fate.
For if they had even an ounce of consciousness, morals, Imaan and fear of Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah. Then they would've thought of what deliverence they would bring down upon their families as well. Personally, I would not be showing any mercy and would avenge the blood and sweat of my fellow countrymen. The day is not that far and it will be one terrifying deliverence.
Count down has begun ....
Such people will have a death which will be horrifying, bone chilling and they would have their bodies dragged on to the streets and will be mutilated. Those who loot and plunder the wealth of Pakistan and oppress the poor people of Pakistan, fill their bellies with the finest food in the white house, while we starve of hunger. Such people will not be mercilessly slaughtered, so will their families be facing the same fate.
For if they had even an ounce of consciousness, morals, Imaan and fear of Allah Subhanaho Wata'aalah. Then they would've thought of what deliverence they would bring down upon their families as well. Personally, I would not be showing any mercy and would avenge the blood and sweat of my fellow countrymen. The day is not that far and it will be one terrifying deliverence.
Count down has begun ....
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