Billions in Aid to Pakistan Was Wasted, Officials Assert

[varun]

Source: NYT

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — After the United States has spent more than $5 billion in a largely failed effort to bolster the Pakistani military effort against militants from Al Qaeda and the Taliban, some American officials now acknowledge that there were too few controls over how the money was spent, and that the strategy to improve the Pakistani military needs to be completely revamped.

In interviews in Islamabad and Washington, Bush administration and military officials said they believed that much of the American money was not making its way to frontline Pakistani units. Money has been diverted to help finance weapons systems designed to counter India, not Al Qaeda or the Taliban, the officials said, adding that the United States has paid tens of millions of dollars in inflated Pakistani reimbursement claims for fuel, ammunition and other costs.

“I personally believe there is exaggeration and inflation,” said a senior American military official who has reviewed the program, referring to Pakistani requests for reimbursement. “Then, I point back to the United States and say we didn’t have to give them money this way.”

Pakistani officials say they are incensed at what they see as American ingratitude for Pakistani counterterrorism efforts that have left about 1,000 Pakistani soldiers and police officers dead. They deny any overcharging has occurred...


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/world/asia/24military.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

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Another giant mismanagement of funds by the Chimperor

[fenriswolf]

1. meanwhile the aid to isreal was used in the manner they were

intended for. namely to subjegate the people in the outling countries.

[Spinzonner]

2. They did it (counterterrorism) for the money

and not for their self-interest ?

Doesn't that make them American Mercenaries ?

[ShockediSay]

3. US has a history of supporting corrupt &/or anti-democratic regimes

Viet Nam

Chile

and now Iraq

to name a few

[Acadia Blue]

4. Bush and his buds are stealing everything just like the Mex. President

and his friends do every single election.