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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (756455)	12/27/2006 8:41:08 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

"and if we do nothing we'll find our sorry selves in the same predicament..." We've been doing next-to-nothing with regards to PAKISTAN, and their support for, and harboring of, Taliban and al Qaeda, and religious extremist Whabbist Sunni (Saudi financed) schools of hatred for FAR TOO LONG. Since 9-11, in fact. So, we are already in that 'predicament', and have been for several years now... and it's a result of our own flawed, ineffective policy choices, and our mindless protection of the Saudi Monarchs and Pakistan's Dictator.

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (756455)	12/27/2006 10:06:21 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

Indian Americans seek to stop US missile sale to Pakistan Wednesday, December 27, 2006 siliconindia.com Washington: Indian Americans are making a valiant bid to halt the proposed US sale of a billion dollar arms package to Pakistan, including TOW-2A Anti-Armour Guided Missiles and E-2C Hawkeye 2000 Airborne Early Warning system. Under the rules, the proposed sales will go through Jan 7 unless the US Congress specifically disapproves them within 30 days of being notified by Pentagon Dec 7 - a highly unlikely prospect as the newly elected Congress begins its session only on Jan 4. TOW-2A missiles, which the Pentagon claimed would "enable Pakistan to support US operations against terrorist activity along its porous borders", could reach $185 million. E-2C HAWKEYE 2000 system for three P-3 aircraft could cost another $855 million. Undeterred by the near futility of their efforts given that a $5.1 billion dollar deal for F-16 planes went through last July with no more than a Congressional rap on the knuckles, Indian Americans have mounted a campaign to inform the lawmakers about the implication of the missile sale to Pakistan for US national security interests. Spurred by the US-India Friendship, a voluntary effort of Indian Americans, several US voters of Indian origin have sent e-mails to their elected representatives pointing out that such "a serious decision" has been taken in a sort of legislative vacuum. The notification was issued Dec 7 - less than two days before the outgoing 109th Congress ended its lame-duck session in the early hours of Dec 9 - and the 30-day notice period expires Jan 6 - just three days after the newly elected 110th Congress takes office on Jan 3. If it happens, it will take place without Congressional oversight into a sale of high tech and possible dual use military equipment, with serious national security implications, said Hari Iyer urging his area representatives "to ask for a deferment of the sales so that you can perform your constitutionally required duty". Another Indian American, B K Vasan, warned that even if a small percentage of these weapons fall into the hands of the Taliban, it can wreak havoc against the American and NATO forces. Manish Thakur said selling Pakistan missiles will send the worst message at this time. For it will not only further encourage Pakistan to tolerate attacks from its territory on US troops, but it "also runs the risk of proliferation of advanced technologies to our enemies." Jaya Kamlani warned these US supplied arms could be used against India, as was done in 1965 during President Lyndon Johnson's presidency. Subhash Paradkar suggested use of diplomatic leverage rather than an arms race for "the development of goodwill in the minds of the Pakistani people toward the United States and India." However, Indian Americans apparently face an uphill task as the $5.1 billion F-16 deal for Pakistan emerged unscathed from the 30-day congressional review period last July under similar circumstances. As the deadline for the Congress to block the deal notified by Pentagon ended then, the House of Representatives went into a month long recess without taking up resolutions by two Democratic lawmakers to block it. The issue never came up before the full Senate. Just a week before the expiry of the deadline, the House committee on international relations upbraided the Bush administration for what it called a calculated move to diminish Congressional authority over the rushed sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, but made no move to block it. Ranking Democrat Tom Lantos, who is set to take over as the chairman of the panel in the new House and his retiring Republican predecessor Henry Hyde later introduced a bill requiring quarterly updates on possible upcoming arms sales and enforcing a 20-day consultation period before the State Department formally notifies Congress of a proposed sale. At the hearing John Hillen, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, admitted that the administration had chosen to waive the 20-day pre-notification period without consulting either Hyde or Lantos, but made no move to end what Democrat Brad Sherman called "this charade" of consultations. He affirmed that the Congress had no means to stop the deal unless both the House and Senate passed resolutions rejecting it before the 30-day review ran out and then override a Bush veto.

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (756455)	12/27/2006 10:57:16 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Pakistan against sanctions on Iran: Foreign Office Wednesday December 27, 2006 (0152 PST) paktribune.com ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday categorically said it would not support sanctions on Iran adding the issue be resolved through diplomatic ways. Addressing the weekly press briefing here at the foreign office, foreign secretary, Riaz Mohammad Khan, said that Pakistan was minutely reviewing the impacts of the international sanctions on Iran over Pak-Iran diplomatic, political and mutual ties and the situation emerges in the region in the wake of the sanctions. The foreign secretary said that Iran should be given the right to obtain civilian technology for peaceful purposes under the safeguard of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "Pakistan wants peaceful solution to Iran issue," he added. He said that consultants would be appointed over the pricing mechanism of Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. He said that there would be no pressure on Pakistan pertaining to gas pipeline. " The project will continue to meet the legal energy requirements of the country," he added. Riaz Mohammad Khan said that Pakistan foreign policy was smoothly going on. "Pakistan wants peace in the region and will play role in this regard," he added. Pakistan, he said, backed peace in Afghanistan and had taken numerous steps to check cross border terrorism. "Pak army has been asked to give proposals for fencing and mining the 2400-kilometer long Pak-Afghan border to control infiltration," he said adding that the crossing points on the border would remain functional. Pakistan has established 700 checkpoints on the border and deployed over 80000 military and paramilitary personnel. "The tripartite military commission besides information sharing is in close contact with the Afghan government," he added. The foreign secretary said that Pakistan sensing responsibility was taking steps on its soil to check terrorism; however, Islamabad was not responsible for the internal unrest in Afghanistan. "It is the responsibility of ISAF, NATO and Afghan forces to ensure peace in Afghanistan," he added. He said that Pakistan was closely reviewing the Afghan refugees` camps and the process of the registration was smoothly underway. "We have appealed to the international community to expedite refugees` repatriation," he added. He said that Pakistan had extended the proposal of fencing the border to the Afghan government but Kabul did not respond positively and Pakistan was doing all this by its own. "We cannot give time to the Afghan government for implementation of the master plan extended by President Musharraf for restoration of peace in Afghanistan. He said that a plan of social development would be implemented in the tribal areas in the parameters of political thinking. He said that United States had not talked to Pakistan to launch military operation in the tribal areas. He said that mining the border was a good step and hoped that barbed wire would be installed and mine be planted in some areas along the border. Responding to a question he said that Pakistan stance on Kashmir was clear. He said that the Kashmiris be given the right of self-determination in line with their wishes. "Pakistan has taken steps and expressed flexibility for solution of the issue and India must give similar response," he added. He said that Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee would be visiting Pakistan in January to formally invite the Pakistani leadership to attend the SAARC summit conference. He said that date of the Indian Prime Minister visit to Pakistan had yet not been fixed. End.