Reports on hearings concerning Pakistan with Holbrooke.

[Mass]

This morning, the SFRC had a hearing concerning Pakistan where they got to interview Special Envoy Holbrooke.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/05/kerryled_panel.html

Kerry-led panel holds hearing on new Pakistan plan

Richard Holbrooke, the special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is testifying today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as it consider President Obama's new strategy for the intertwined nations.
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Holbrooke testified that "a stable, secure, democratic Pakistan is vital to US national security interests."
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(Holbrooke and Kerry's prepared remarks are at the link.

While there are a few foreign reports of the hearing, it is amazing how little report there is in this country. Here is the only one I found.

http://washingtonindependent.com/42549/holbrooke-i-cant-be-certain-afghan-troop-build-up-wont-be-counterproductive
Holbrooke: I Can’t Be Certain Afghan Troop Build-Up Won’t Be Counterproductive

Wow! Even this does not interest the media.

This may be the most important foreign policy topic these days and the media cannot be bothered to cover these issues (covering Miss California's problems is so much more important).

[beachmom]

1. Yup. Foreign policy in general is not reported on a lot.

I think even Secretary Clinton is being under reported. Don't forget though that what is happening to newspapers is going to happen to television and radio as well. So says John Kerry, and I agree with him. Therefore, news gets less and less serious and more and more sensationalistic as they try to grab market share, but continue to lose ground.

[Mass]

2. A couple more reports

CNN has it

CNN has it.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/12/pakistan.holbrooke/

Holbrooke defends increased aid for Pakistan

Veteran diplomat Richard Holbrooke also reiterated his strong support for recently introduced legislation that would triple U.S. financial aid to the government of embattled Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari over the next five years.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Holbrooke criticized the Bush administration for providing what he said was excessive support for former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and for committing a "pathetic" amount of money to help stabilize Pakistan's critical tribal areas.

Holbrooke warned members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that military and political success in neighboring Afghanistan would not be possible if Pakistan's western areas remain a sanctuary for the Taliban and al Qaeda.

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Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at the start of the hearing that Pakistan "has emerged as one of the most difficult foreign policy challenges we face. ... Pakistan today has potential to be crippled by the Taliban or stand as a bulwark against everything the Taliban represents."

Aid to Pakistan is not a "silver bullet," Kerry warned. "Americans can influence events in Pakistan, but we cannot and should not decide them."

And Fox has it too, focusing on Menendez opposition.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/12/holbrooke-takes-friendly-democrat-strategy-afghanistan-pakistan/

n Testy Exchange, Democratic Senator Announces Opposition to Aid for Pakistan
Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez declared Tuesday that he does not support the Obama administration's proposals for providing $7.5 billion in financial aid to Pakistan.
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In a testy exchange, Menendez told Richard Holbrooke he does not think the Obama administration has developed a comprehensive strategy for Pakistan that addresses military, diplomatic, economic, intelligence and law enforcement elements or the rule of law.

"So do we need a comprehensive plan? What is it? What is our strategy, a comprehensive strategy? And should we not have benchmarks here to make sure we don't continue in the one step forward, two steps back?" Menendez said.
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Holbrooke then said that the U.S. can not run Pakistan, the world's second largest Muslim nation, but it can help "the civilian development and economic issues" that will "help them strengthen democracy."

"I don't believe that $12 billion later that we are ignoring -- we have been ignoring Pakistan. If $12 billion later you would tell any U.S. taxpayer that we had been ignoring Pakistan, they would probably bristle at the idea," Menendez said.

"So there is going to have to be some give and take here if you want the support of some of us who have been supportive along the way but are just not here for a blank check. I said that in the previous administration. And as much as I respect this one, I believe the same standards have to be applied," he continued.

"I'm deeply troubled by what you said... ," Holbrooke interrupted.

"I'm deeply troubled by where we're at, and I don't get a sense of reassurance from you," Menendez fired back.