Byron's Blog

Anonymous found Barack Obama's call to cut-off aid for Pakistan alarming and even more evidence that there is simply no way he should become President.

Barack Obama -- Wrong on Pakistan

by Anonymous

Strange how events change things. Take this blog for example. It was going to be all about the ludicrous Alternative Minimum Tax -- how it punishes an increasing number of working Americans, how Democrats maybe want to eliminate it, but naturally replace it with another economically debilitating tax which will cost them the Presidential election in a close race. All that got pushed aside because of the the bonehead statement from Barack Obama about how the U.S. should now cut off aid to Pakistan. His idea is so outrageously insane that no amount of will power could keep Anonymous from pointing out how dangerous and reckless Barack Obama would be as President.

The tragic, disheartening assassination of Benazir Bhutto prompted Senator Obama to try -- once again -- to appear as if he's a tough, assertive leader. All he did was confirm that he has absolutely no idea how to handle international affairs, or much else for that matter. The idea that the U.S. should now cut off economic aid to Pakistan is the worst policy move imaginable. America should be more engaged and involved there, not less.

Pakistan is economically, strategically and culturally important to the U.S. None of that changed because the Bhutto assassination. Some parts of the nation are in chaos, political uncertainty is high which means the need for the U.S. to be engaged is even higher than ever. Now, imagine what would happen if Barack Obama were President (geesh!) and America cut off aid. There can only be one outcome from such a misguided strategy -- it would make a bad situation worse.

There is no question that the Musharraf regime has been corrupt and ineffective, but maybe one of Senator Obama's more astute aids should pull him aside inform him that Pakistan just happens to be an American ally in a part of the world where friends of the U.S. are hard to come by and tell him, by the way Barack, they've got the bomb. To stand by while a nuclear armed ally struggles through a time of major disruption and upheaval is just plain dumb.

Maybe the Junior Senator from Illinois wants to collect his proverbial toys and stomp his feet all the way home, but that childish move would not enhance America's interests. U.S. firms have substantial investments there, which are a key reason why Pakistan has an emerging middle class. No, President Musharraf has not led the way toward change, but remember it was American influence that helped him understand that he must relinquish control of the military. That happened because the U.S. stayed connected and is the very reason why America should stay involved now.

America has an opportunity to broker a positive change, help a people move toward Democracy, influence the path that Pakistan takes and have a lasting impact for decades to come. Nah -- let's follow Barack Obama's lead and simply walk away at this most critical moment. He rambles on and on about the politics of change, but this plan sounds more like political amateur hour.