Kerry comment on Taliban commander in Pakistan, wher ehe is meeting with Zadari

[karynnj]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hOZMePNn8Y3StL0Uimp1MueOLphQD9DT94L00

Here is the CBS story:

Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed with that assessment when interviewed via satellite from Islamabad on Tuesday for "The Early Show".

"It's a big transition that is taking place," Kerry told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "For some period of time, there were doubts in Pakistan about whether this was a fight that involved them."

Now, Kerry said, "the level of violence that has been brought by these insurgents, has convinced the government of Pakistan and the Pakistani people that their country is threatened and that this fight is their fight."

Baradar heads the Taliban's military council and was elevated in the body after the 2006 death of military chief Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Usmani. Baradar is known to coordinate the movement's military operations throughout the south and southwest of Afghanistan. His area of direct responsibility stretches over Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces.

[fedupinBushcountry]

1. Here's the video

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6212631n&tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea

[karynnj]

2. Thanks

It is nice that he was given the time to explain the significance in the change in Pakistan. It was great that he refused to speculate on either of the two rumors.

[Inuca]

5. What rumors (can't watch)? n/t

[karynnj]

6. I should have said speculation

The two were whether negotiations with some of the Taliban played a role in the capture of the commander and if this would lead to knowledge of OBL's whereabouts. In both cases, he politely refused to speculate. (Really dumb questions - if he knew anything he wouldn't (and shouldn't say) and is he didn't know anything, saying something would be really counterproductive.)

[wisteria]

3. Much thanks. n/t

[karynnj]

4. Kerry told Zadari that money must go through NGOs and that the 2009 audit must be done before 2010

money is given.

ISLAMABAD – US Senator John F Kerry reminded President Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting on Tuesday that they could not release money under Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for the year 2010 before the audit of the disbursements made in 2009.

Visiting Senator Kerry accompanied with the US Ambassador here Anne W Patterson called on the President at the Presidency and reaffirmed the American commitments to continue multifaceted support to Pakistan.

But the sources informed TheNation that Senator Kerry again reminded the President that channels for the US economic assistance were very much prescribed in the relevant legislation and it was not possible to change them with an amendment. Therefore, the sources further disclosed, the visiting Senator told President in so many words that routing the US economic assistance through the government channels was not possible. The US intended to route this assistance through the non-governmental apparatus to ensure transparency, accountability and efficacy in terms of results, he maintained during his meeting with the President.
<snip>
Kerry assured the President that the US would continue to provide all possible assistance to the democratic dispensation in Pakistan in strengthening democracy, rule of law, sustainable economic development and its capability to effectively take on militants.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/17-Feb-2010/No-money-before-audit-Kerry-tells-Zardari