Robert Spencer: Who is John Kerry trying to kid?

Over at PJMedia I discuss John Kerry's howlingly false statements about Pakistan helping us find Osama bin Laden:

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported last Thursday, no doubt with some relief, that during his confirmation hearing for his nomination as secretary of State, Senator John Kerry declared that he opposed cutting American aid to Pakistan, which he saw as a “‘dramatic, draconian and sledge-hammer’ measure. Senator Kerry also said that Pakistan’s role in leading the United States to Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad had not been sufficiently appreciated.”
Who is Kerry kidding? The Pakistani government didn’t help the U.S. find bin Laden. In fact, they were enraged that they had not been filled in on the details of the hunt, which was a wise decision in light of the jihadist ties of the ISI, the Pakistani spy service.

How enraged were they? Let’s recall how events unfolded in May 2011, just after bin Laden was killed. The day his killing became known, May 2, 2011, 800 Pakistanis held a rally in Quetta, proclaiming:

Bin Laden was the hero of the Muslim world and after his martyrdom he has won the title of great mujahed.

But that was only 800 people. The vast majority of Pakistanis rejected the views of this tiny minority of extremists, right? Wrong. By just over a week after bin Laden’s death, 100,000 Osama bin Laden posters had been sold in Pakistan. Two weeks after his death, 4,000 bin Laden supporters rallied in Lahore to protest the killing of bin Laden, chanting “America is the worst enemy of humanity!” A nationwide poll conducted at that time found 51 percent of Pakistanis saying that they felt grief over bin Laden’s death.

Of course, none of this means that the Pakistani government didn’t help the U.S. find bin Laden, even if its cooperation was unpopular with its own people. However, that wasn’t the case, either. The CIA confirmed just after the raid that Pakistani officials had not been informed about it for fear that they would “jeopardize the mission.” This fear appeared to be amply justified when Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir gave the U.S. a warning: “There shall not be any doubt that any repetition of such an act [i.e., the bin Laden raid] will have disastrous consequences.”

A Pakistani opposition leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, lamented: “This is the biggest tragedy in the history of Pakistan after the fall of East Pakistan in 1971.” He added: “Heads should roll.” There were prayers for bin Laden in Pakistan’s National Assembly. The nation’s parliament condemned the raid and even threatened the U.S. with sanctions.

Does John Kerry really not know any of this, or does he just hope that we don’t? His appointment represents a continuation of policies that have failed again and again, and seem to be immune to evaluation in light of how they have played out on the world stage. There is at this point no reason whatsoever for the U.S. to continue to send billions of taxpayer dollars to Pakistan.....

There is more.

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15 Comments

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Aardvark | January 30, 2013 9:50 AM | Reply

Senator John Kerry declared that he opposed cutting American aid to Pakistan, which he saw as a “‘dramatic, draconian and sledge-hammer’ measure

Dramatic, draconian and sledgehammer measures are exactly what are called for to deal with these barbarians!

Wellington | January 30, 2013 10:16 AM | Reply

I strongly suspect why America still sends billions to Pakistan is for one reason above all, to wit, an agreement between Pakistan and the US that no matter how many differences exist between the two nations Pakistan will not pass off its nuclear arsenal to anyone.

Look at it this way: If Pakistan didn't have nuclear weapons, would we still be sending billions there? I rather doubt it. Now, one can conclude that America still shouldn't be providing Pakistan with money even though it does have a nuclear capability, but this isn't how either Republicans or Democrats who may be in charge see things. In short, it's bribe money.

Meanwhile, people like Kerry will say dopey things about Pakistan that even people like Kerry don't believe, all the while refusing to admit publicly the real reason American taxpayer money is going to that God-forsaken nation which Ralph Peters has aptly described as "chaos with a Parliament."

joeblough | January 30, 2013 11:16 AM | Reply

Does John Kerry really not know any of this, or does he just hope that we don’t?

We are at a curious point with respect to our political elites.

They're pushing the envelop of what they can get away with.

On one hand, they feel free to act in open defiance of the public will and the obvious facts of reality.

On the other, they still feel some obligation to say the opposite of what they are doing when there is a camera on them.

It seems they are still somewhat afraid of losing control -- but are cautiously optimistic about attaining total power.

Call it the day before take over.

EZrider | January 30, 2013 11:38 AM | Reply

On top of all that......

In the months leading up to the killing of OBL there were several instances of intellegence being leaked on warehouses used by terrorists for making bombs and IEDs. Whenever U.S. troops would execute raids on these warehouses, they (the warehouses) would be freshly abandonded and cleaned out of all the bomb making materials. Only U.S. and Pakistan officials knew of such intellegence.

Now tell me they are a trusted partner in the war on terror. I think not!

Jaladhi | January 30, 2013 12:18 PM | Reply

A Muslim can never be trusted. Period. Pakistan has proven this old adage again and again and we like battered spouse always go abck praising Pakistan. Whether it is Clinton or Kerry or Rice, it doesn't matter they all send billions to Pakistan to no end. What have gotten in return?? Nothing. If we had leaked to pakistan that we knew where bin Laden was he would have shifted by pakistan and he would still be laughing at us!!

lookmann | January 30, 2013 12:52 PM | Reply

In a previous article on Sen.Kerry's appointment,vide

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/01/kerry-cutting-aid-to-pakistan-would-be-unkind-they-helped-us-find-bin-laden.html

RS missed a recent Paki. rebuff to US.Pakistan actually blocked NATO supplies through its territory for several months in retaliation to the death of over 20 soldiers due to NATO's,counter-fire,
which was provoked by heavy firing by Taliban from Pakistani side.How come that Paki.army
men died in NATO attack? Were they giving cover-fire or actually assisting their Taliban brothers?

Pakistan then demanded apology from US,which was stoutly refused by Obama administration.
However the issue seems to have been settled by 'increased' CAF(coalition assistance fund or simply 'Jiziya')

Abraham_Lincoln | January 30, 2013 1:32 PM | Reply

Robert, you need to follow the money.

You are working from the assumption that U.S. foreign policy -- and tax payer dollars should be used to promote justice and democratic republic ideals and liberty, if any are spent at all. That isn't what it's about. Hasn't been since the 1950's. No, U.S. foreign policy and the tax dollars spent are primarily to feed the Military Industrial Complex. Pakistan gets that money and most of it goes to buying military equipment from the Complex. Sure, some gets skimmed off the top, but most of that tax payer money goes towards the Complex's products. So the very idea that somehow Kerry isn't in the pocket of Washington lobbyists from the Complex would be ridiculous if anyone suggested it. His bizarre comments reflect this grasping for excuses. This money doesn't vanish down the rabbit hole -- the U.S. Military Industrial Complex is completely responsible for it being spent, continued, and making sure it doesn't stop. Even if Obama weren't a dubious Islamophile, he's a wet blanket who couldn't stop it if he wanted to.

Here's a one page briefing for Jihad Watch readers to gain some perspective if they're not aware:

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/pakarms.pdf

RCCA replied to comment from Wellington | January 30, 2013 2:20 PM | Reply

That explains a lot. Kerry did mention the supply routes we use through Pakistan for Afghanistan to justify not cutting aid to Pakistan. But that doesn't come close to explaining the situation.

When I listen to the Senators, like the confirmation hearing for Kerry at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I'm impressed by their supreme self confidence and repulsed at the same time. Term limits would probably benefit the Republic.

margaritha | January 30, 2013 2:35 PM | Reply

Will John Kerry be getting a broaker's commission on the deal of sqandering the American tax payer's dollars?

Wellington replied to comment from RCCA | January 30, 2013 6:51 PM | Reply

Yes, if it were only about the supply routes, the US would probably still give Pakistan a few hundred million, but the "billions stuff" is due to a much larger issue, i.e, a completely screwed up and dysfunctional nation in possession of nuclear weapons. A Realpolitik matter to be sure.

Respecting term limits, I'm very sympathetic to such a proposal, but here's the weakness in it: Limited terms for elected politicians would give way to a civilian, governmental bureaucracy even more so which is already not accountable to anyone. Classic case, I would argue, of being careful for what you wish because you might get it.

gerard replied to comment from Wellington | January 30, 2013 9:32 PM | Reply

"bribe money."
That won't work, of course, anyway...

gerard replied to comment from Aardvark | January 30, 2013 9:37 PM | Reply

"Aardvark never hurt anyone."
The late Spike Milligan, UK comedian.
On his gravestone he had: "I told you I was ill!"

Wellington replied to comment from gerard | January 30, 2013 10:41 PM | Reply

I agree, gerard. Most times the briber still gets bit bad but it doesn't stop a particular briber thinking he'll be the exception. I mean, after all, if everyone truly knew that a bribe would never work, no one would bribe.

david | January 31, 2013 8:52 AM | Reply

There was a good show about this here in Australia on the History Channel called "Secret Pakistan", it detailed in full how American $ goes to the ISI, who then funnel it to the Taliban, who then kill Allied troops with the support money & equipment. Basically any American money to Pakistan is literally killing it's own troops. President Obama knows full well about Pakistan too, an expert on it was saying how he briefed the President on Pakistan's betrayal for forty minutes onboard Air Force One. John Kerry is either a liar or completely clueless & incompetent, I'll go with the liar option, he loses either way though.

gravenimage | February 1, 2013 2:14 AM | Reply

Senator John Kerry declared that he opposed cutting American aid to Pakistan, which he saw as a “‘dramatic, draconian and sledge-hammer’ measure...
............................

John Kerry may be a bigger dhimmi tool than Hillary Clinton, which is saying a great deal, indeed.

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