By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a brief statement to the press today with The Right Honorable David Miliband, M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland prior to their bilateral meeting which will discuss issues such as humanitarian issues in Sri Lanka and action in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Clinton said, “He and I have already forged a close working relationship on not only out bilateral issues but on so many of the global concerns that we both care greatly about.”

 

 Standard Podcast [1:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.)
Photo by Michael Ruhl

In the next 5 years, the Pakistani infrastructure will be fortified by almost $10 billion American dollars, if Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) have anything to say about it. The aptly titled Kerry-Lugar Bill will provided money for rebuilding the lives of civilians in war torn Pakistan.

Both Kerry and Lugar said that most of the money that has been funneled into Pakistan in the past few years has gone towards security. The aim of this bill is to shift the balance, to place more of an emphasis on infrastructure.

The Senators want to use the money for building schools, improving health care, building bridges, water projects, and other elements of infrastructure. Kerry said that the target projects are “things that would improve life and give people a sense of progress” to civilians.

The money would also be used for ensuring an independent media, expanding human rights and the rule of law, expanding transparency in government, rooting out political corruption and countering the drug trade.

Additionally military funding would be conditioned upon several things, including Pakistani security forces preventing al Qaeda and Taliban forces from operating in Pakistan. The military forces would not be able to interfere in politics or in the judicial process, according to the provisions of the bill.

The legislation bill would give $1.5 billion each year from FY 2009-2013, and would recommend similar amounts of money over the subsequent five years. There would be required benchmarks to measuring how effective the funding is, and the President will have to submit semi-annual reports to Congress about progress made.

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio New Service

This morning at a discussion on issues related to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) broke away from his Republican colleagues by praising one of President Barack Obama’s policies.

The plan that was unveiled last Friday would increase U.S. support in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Bond says the only way to address the long-term threat of terrorism in the region is to take a “smart power-counter insurgency approach.”

Recent attacks in Pakistan “underscore that the threats emanating from the region are one of the greatest national security threats and challenges of our time,” Bond said.

“The reason my optimism is guarded is because the President has split the baby between two competing camps in Washington and I believe in the White House today. The first camp focuses strictly on counter terrorism, or CT, and the second which takes a counter insurgency or coin strategy approach,” Bond said.

“We will not have success eliminating extremist elements in Afghanistan if we cannot confront them in western Pakistan. To do this we must fully engage Pakistan,” he said, adding that cooperation from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is vital to success.

“NATO must supply more military and civilian assistance personal and remove cumbersome constraints on their people in the field,” Bond said.

But, Bond said, the U.S. “must work with Pakistan to find out what will be required to achieve genuine and measurable progress against terrorists and insurgents in the federally administered tribal areas and other border regions in Pakistan.

“There are three legs of the stool that need to be addressed in the region; security, development and governance,” said Bond, adding that security will only be truly established when local Afghan and Pakistan security forces are able to hold territory themselves and when they have the incentives to do so.

Additionally, “We need to have USAID and other development organizations coordinate better with our military forces to provide what local leaders want and not just deliver to them, one year later, what we tell them they need. This means working with local councils or tribal gurges to insure we are meeting their needs.”

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

At a discussion Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) addressed issues on Pakistan and Afghanistan. Bond said that the recent attacks in Pakistan “underscore that the threats emanating from the region are one of the greatest national security threats and challenges of our time.”

With the long-term concentration of American troops leaving Iraq–Afghanistan and Pakistan are the front lines of what has become of an evolving war.

“A critical aspect of this new strategy is the recognition that Afghanistan and Pakistan are two countries that compromise a single theater for our diplomacy,” said Michéle Flournoy, the Undersecretary of Defense Policy, believes that the key to creating a stable Afghanistan relied upon the deployment of soldiers in order to train Afghan security.

According to General David Petraeus, Commander of United States Central Command, Pakistan and Afghanistan are a breeding ground for extremists who pose the great threats to national security.

“The United States has vital national interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Petraeus. The strategy the Obama administration released, which seeks to increase the amount of military present in Afghanistan, was echoed through the increasing of the military presence within Afghanistan.

However, Petraeus believes, that the additional 4,000 American soldiers to train Afghan security forces will only be successful if employed properly as, “It is vital that they [the American military] be seen as good guests and partners, not as would be conquerors or superiors.”

Petraeus said American soldiers must be “formidable warriors who also do all possible to avoid civilian casualties in the course of combat operation.” Though civilian death are inevitable, Petraeus thinks that they must be minimized as to prevent Afghan public support from turning against America.

Following Petraeus, Admiral Eric T. Olson spoke about the use of special forces units in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which he believes are key because they bring “soft power with a hard edge.” Also, special operation units are not a “one-dimensional gunslinger,” said Olson, “they are equally adept at defense, development, and diplomacy.”

General David Petraeus, Commander of the United States Central Command, discusses Iran’s influence in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (0:14)

 Other Media: Download

Congressman Andre Carson (D-Ind.) delivers a statement today urging Pakistan to restore their judiciary system. “We were all awakened this morning to the disturbing news of activities taking place today in Pakistan. So us gathering here today is of significant importance. Because we gather not just to commemorate an event nor do we come here today to soley advocate for judicial reforms in Pakistan. Our activities today are bigger then any one event or cause. Because our cause for enhanced civil liberties in Pakistan are wrapped in a universal moment that collectively calls for increased freedoms and basic human rights everywhere.” (0:51)
By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Congressman Andre Carson (D-Ind.) delivered a statement today urging Pakistan to restore their judiciary system. “We were all awakened this morning to the disturbing news of activities taking place today in Pakistan. So us gathering here today is of significant importance. Because we gather not just to commemorate an event nor do we come here today to soley advocate for judicial reforms in Pakistan. Our activities today are bigger then any one event or cause. Because our cause for enhanced civil liberties in Pakistan are wrapped in a universal moment that collectively calls for increased freedoms and basic human rights everywhere.”

Carson said that although many are quick to point out that Pakistan is ground zero in the fight against terror, “history has shown us that one of the most effective ways to defeat terror is by enhancing our basic freedoms. By standing for freedom we are taking a stand against extremism,” stated Carson.

The Congressman said that he looks forward to working with his colleagues in the U.S. House because , “A stronger and more independent Pakistani judiciary means a weaker Taliban. So it is imperative that Congress and the administration act swiftly in promoting a more progressive Pakistan, and a Pakistan that is able to promote human rights and implement strong judicial reforms.” Carson stated that through an engaged and reciprocal democracy, hopefully we can create such a Pakistan.

Dr. Agha Saeed, Founder of Pakistani American National Alliance (PANA) said that Pakistan is going through a decisive struggle; “A stable and democratic Pakistan will be a gift to itself and its neighbors and the whole world.” PANA is calling on the Obama Administration to support Pakistan’s struggle for an independent judiciary system.

Anita M. Weiss, Professor in the Department of International Studies
at the University of Oregon, spoke today about women’s rights in
Pakistan at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. Weiss
stressed the importance of getting women’s rights developed in Pakistan. Educating more women was a main issue Weiss spoke about and
the creation of more schools for female education was presented
as a solution. She discussed the fact that only 4% of girls in Pakistan reach the education level of the ninth grade.

Weiss described the fact that Pakistan’s government is working on solutions
that will improve the status of women, but that more action is necessary.

Professor Weiss described three steps that need to be implemented in
order to strengthen women’s rights in Pakistan. The first step focuses
on the legislature and the need to create more laws that support women. The second step describes the need to increase women’s participation in political
elections, both within political candidates and voters.

Weiss discussed the importance of involving more women in the
political sphere, to be able to integrate women more in society.
The third step focuses on women’s economical rights, such as the right
to earn an individual income. If the economical rights are improved,
women’s status will raise in society.
By involving more women in the grass-roots levels, the problems and
solutions can be presented from the group that is affected and more
efficient ideas can be created.

Weiss also pointed out that by improving women’s rights in Pakistan,
it will not only help the women, but also the country’s development.
The U.S. can help Pakistan in this area by working with both the
Pakistan government and with different Non-Governmental-Organizations  (NGO’s).

The both can be assisted by the United States through economic
resources and also with the knowledge of equality and women’s rights. One
example of this is the area of judicial rights.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and former Represenative Vin Weber (R-Minn) spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations conerning American relations with the Muslim world. Secretary Albright said that Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world, but that Afghanistan and Pakistan are closely tied in their turmoil. She continued that most Americans are “woefully ignorant” of the Muslim world, and that America’s approach should not be one of ‘tolerance’, but rather one of ‘respect’. Concurrent to that line of thought is the notion that the United States should be prepared to deal with Islamist democratic elections where the results are not favorable to American policy. Albright said people all over the world are ready for democracy, but that the United States should take the position of supporting popular democratic movements, not “imposing democracy”. Weber echoed that sentiment, but insisted that the U.S. could help build the “preconditions for democracy”, such as improving women’s rights or encouraging an open media.

Regarding America’s approach to fighting terrorism, Albright said that the U.S. must not fight terror in a way which creates new terrorists, and that every civilian death makes both the United States and our causes suffer. Regarding the policies of ‘targeted killings’ and assassinations, Weber highlighted that both the Bush and Obama administrations said that they would not ignore ‘actionable intelligence’ on the locations of terrorists. Albright also stated that it is important for America to distinguish those who were civilians and those who were “murders”.