I had just about given up on Trump, and then he says this. We can only hope that he will follow through, and not be persuaded by McMaster that all Pakistan needs is a few more U.S. billions to turn it into a reliable ally.
“Trump to ‘cut all military aid to Pakistan’, thinks Washington is being ‘ripped off’ by Islamabad: report,” Reuters, August 19, 2017:
US President Donald Trump is mulling cutting off all military aid to Pakistan because ‘Washington is being ripped off by Islamabad’, claims a Foreign Policy report….
The FP report quoted a White House official as saying that “the President thinks we’re being ripped off by Pakistan. The president wants to cut off all military aid to Pakistan. That’s part of the strategy”….
During the discussions at Camp David, there were differences of opinion over taking a harder line on Pakistan for failing to close Afghan Taliban sanctuaries and arrest Afghan extremist leaders. US officials say the Afghan Taliban are supported by elements of Pakistan’s military and top intelligence agency, a charge Islamabad denies.
Pentagon has already frozen support to Islamabad under the coalition support fund, which provides Pakistan with payments to finance counter-terrorism operations. Mattis claims he could not find evidence that Pakistan had taken enough action against the Haqqani network.
Amid relentless criticism of Pakistan from the Trump administration, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has told a top US military commander that Pakistan doesn’t need aid, all it wants is acknowledgement of its efforts in the fight against terrorism.
“More than financial or material assistance, we seek acknowledgement of our decades-long contributions towards regional peace and stability, understanding of our challenges and most importantly the sacrifices the Pakistani nation and its security forces have rendered in [the] fight against terrorism and militancy,” he told Centcom chief General Joseph L Votel during a meeting at the GHQ on Friday….
John A. Marre says
Why was this country giving money to a Muslim country? Not a cent! Nothing!
alex9234 says
China is still supporting them too.
gravenimage says
That should not surprise.
Dehne mclaugjlin says
I think the money is ultimately about trying to ensure that Paki nukes do not end up in radical hands. So USA backs governments that will talk to them and share security concerns. I do not think government officials in either goverbmnment care where the money is spent.
gravenimage says
There is nothing “moderate” about Pakistan.
Angus says
100% correct.
Pakistan is an excellent example of a modern country that is almost totally (99%) Muslim – violent, racist and oppressive from bottom to top.
Tim says
among other reasons to provide land based logistical support to land-locked Afghanistan.
joe says
yes
James says
He should cut all aid to Pakistan – and so should all other countries
Lance Johnson says
Amen I know people from Pakistan they all say the same thing we give them money they give it to the terrorist and they kill the Christian !!! You cannot give a 90 % Muslim country money and expect them to do good with it . It is not possible !!!
RonaldB says
There are pros and cons to cutting off aid to Pakistan.
The con is that Pakistan may give support to the Haqqani and Taliban terror networks.
The pro is that Pakistan will have fewer resources to continue funding the Haqqani and Taliban terror networks.
eduardo odraude says
Yesterday I said that we were giving up too quickly on Trump, that Bannon’s ouster did not mean much to our interests, and that McMaster might in part be camouflage and window dressing by which Trump gives himself cover. In the case of Bannon, we don’t need an association that creates a perception of flirtation or engagement with racists. Islam is not a race and we oppose it not for any such reasons but because it is totalitarian. If every single Muslim were lily white, we would reject it just as unequivocally and demand a stop to immigration of Muslims at least as urgently. That Islam is not a race is a point that Robert Spencer has repeatedly and consistently made, so Bannon’s ouster only helps to keep things clear about what the majority of the counterjihad movement stands for. Countering jihad is enough of a burden without the albatross of an ally (Bannon) who, while not himself a racist, flirts with them in order to win. Sure, the WW II Allies included Stalin in order to beat Hitler, and some of today’s Democrats ally at times with all kinds of thuggish radicals in order to win, but I don’t think we need to do that on our side. We need a big tent of Dems and Repubs strategically hawkish toward Islam and militantly banging the drum for freedom of conscience and free speech. Islam is of course not just a religion but also a state and can be countered on that basis. I think we can win without thuggish allies just by educating ourselves and the public about what Muhammad and the core Islamic texts teach. http://www.quotingislam.blogspot.com
eduardo odraude says
The above link may not work. I’ll try it differently:
https://quotingislam.blogspot.com/
RonaldB says
I don’t think your argument is at all coherent.
Bannon is not simply associated with racism, although the charge of racism is defined by the left. Bannon is associated with Trump’s original platform, including building the wall, disengaging from foreign affairs not directly affecting US security, exclusion of dangerous Muslims (not to discount the possibility that all Muslims are dangerous), and reasonable trade protections of US industries.
McMaster is certainly a good cover for Trump, since he opposes almost every one of Trump’s planks. Good strategy. Discourage muggers by shooting yourself in the head.
eduardo odraude says
Trump can maintain all those points you mention as associated with Bannon, without Bannon’s radioactive association with racism. Trump is not a racist and does not need that albatross around his neck.
Your point about McMaster is valid to the extent that Trump lets McMaster substantively influence policy. But Trump’s decision to stop aid to Pakistan — a stop called for by Jihad Watch for many years — suggests McMaster’s role may not be significant when it comes to the points on which people here have inclined toward Trump.
Fady says
Actually, most of Muslims are WHITE. The arabs are Caucasians Mediterranean, the same race of south Europe (Italy!),
Some of Syrian, Iranians, Lebanese, and some of Iraqis are of the Aryan race, or mixed Aryans, the favorite Hitler race! Iran’s name means the land of Aryans.
So it’s not racist to oppose Islam, Islam is a white religion. Muslims started the black slave market. Black slaves did exist in the arab world till the 60’s!
terry says
They still exist in the muslim world, not just blacks but from all nations, with many being women.
Bob says
Agreed Terry – try Mauritania which apparently actually advertises it’s slave markets – not a word from the muslim-dominated UN!
Gotti says
Arabs are Semites, unrelated by blood or culture to Europeans.
gravenimage says
Fady wrote:
Black slaves did exist in the arab world till the 60’s!
………………….
What *absolute rot*. Arab Muslims ran the black slave trade for hundreds of years. One can find thousands of photographs of black slaves in Arab markets from the 19th century.
alex9234 says
“The pro is that Pakistan will have fewer resources to continue funding the Haqqani and Taliban terror networks.” – I don’t know about that, especially since the Chinese still give them plenty of military aid.
ploome says
the Pakistanis are close to bankrupt
all they do is reproduce
Carolyne says
Reproduce with their first cousins, at that. 80% of married Pakistanis are married to first cousins. This does not produce brilliant children, or even children with normal IQs. We need to stop giving money to our enemies and Pakistan is certainly one of them. They harbored Bin Laden for years. They have jailed the doctor who gave info to the US which enabled us to find him and eliminate him.
Budvarakbar says
You need to read your post wasted space
Zha says
Arabs who kidnap white slaves for breeding.
Can you give more information. citations.
this is very interesting: Arabs who kidnap white slaves for breeding.
Michael Warden says
Britain currently gives away £13 BILLION POUNDS a year to foreign countries – including to 19 of the top 20 most corrupt countries in the world.
Most of these countries hate us anyway, but what the hell, it’s only taxpayer’s money.
WorkingClassPost says
Just do it✔
Arch Kennedy says
Don’t give up on him, Robert. I think there is a method to his madness. I believe he is actually the first President that really gets it on Islamic terrorism.
moeped says
+1
Guy Forester says
Pakistan had aided the Taliban, al Qaeda, and supported terror attacks against India. They are currently supported by the PRC, who are not our friends, either. We would be better served working with India. India has its own set of issues, but we have a lot more in common than with Pakistan.
ElderlyZionist says
India doesn’t ask for aid. India is developing into a full partner with the west.
Jean Terry says
We should not give money to these militant Muslim nations. I resent that our hard earned taxes are going to counties like this. If we have to give money we should give to struggling Democratic nations.
paul says
In St Paul, another 34% tax hike for what just came in…The muslim nation has come here
Georg says
B-b-b-b-but…… How will they turn into a Jeffersonian democracy?
Oliver says
Some h.
You apparently did not hear yesterday’s profound statement by the leading expert of race relations in the US. Rev Sharpton.
The gov’t should stop all funding to the Jefferson Memorial because he had slaves
So. No to trying to foster Jeffersonian democracies
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
LOL. I hope I’m not the only one to get and appreciate your great joke. Well done!
somehistory says
Since they no longer provide a home and food, etc. to o bin ladin and his many wives and children, they probably can get along with fewer dollars.
The countries ruled by the wild beast of islum spend their funds on producing terror, and other weapons of warfare in order to spread the influence of the beast worldwide.
abad says
Good. President Trump knows that Pakistan is a lost cause.
Now all he has to do is cut off military aid to the rest of the Muslim majority nations including Saudi Arabia and we are all set.
Charity begins at home.
Walter Sieruk says
From a great number of different reliable sources, it’s long been discovered that Pakistan had given funds and support to violent and deadly Islamic terror jihad groups. As for example, the Taliban.
Therefore, the Government of the United States of America had every right to cut military aid to that Islamic country. . Better yet the USA should withhold all aid to Pakistan since that Islamic nation supports such evil and violent entities, as the Taliban.
eduardo odraude says
In a different political climate (one in which more people were aware of the totalitarian character of Muhammad and the core Islamic texts), it could make sense sometimes to use money for the sake of influence in a place like Pakistan. But in the current political climate, even with a president who appears to understand that Islam is a totalitarian political religion, the money seems more likely to be a counterproductive waste.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
“More than financial or material assistance, we seek acknowledgement of our decades-long contributions towards regional peace and stability, understanding of our challenges and most importantly the sacrifices the Pakistani nation and its security forces have rendered in [the] fight against terrorism and militancy,”
Supporting the Taliban? Knowingly giving refuge to Bin Laden? Giving aid to the Mumbai terrorists? What other decades-long contributions from Pakistan towards regional peace and stability?
Carolyne says
In addition to what you say above, Mr Fitzgerald, Pakistan runs a horrendous country which allows mistreatment of women and permits tribal leaders to sentence women to death or rape for crimes committed by their male relatives. I do not want one cent of my tax money to go to such barbaric people.
gravenimage says
All true, Hugh and Carolyne.
Ren says
Never give money to muslims. Everybody knows what they’ll do with it.
manat bint allaha says
let pakistani soldiers eat qurans and hadiths.
the arab masters will fight their wars to the last pakistani soldier.
The Fifth Estate says
Finally, americans are waking up, took long 70 years. Isn’t it funny that Americans were giving military aid even after knowing that Pakistan helped North Korea to make the Nuclear Bomb?
Oliver says
With the help of Jimmy Carter (who gave away all against Bill Clinton orders)
Bill Clinton. George W Bush and Hussein Obama.
Peterson says
America is not waking up.It is just that Trump is sitting there who does not heed to the nonsense people around him speak.This one man is going to set right America. As long as he is in office he will set the record straight. May god bless him.
duh swami says
Foreign aid,military or otherwise is not called for in the US Constitution…
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
I’m counting on Hillary to speak out on this. Cutting off the money will enrage the Pakis and they’ll begin sponsoring terrorism in Afghanistan and cooperating with the Communist Chinese. Oh, wait…
Sven Oljaski says
We were spending 20 billion dollars a year as RANSOM to these horrible child rapists and terror supporters. These are some of the most vile human rights violators. They have nuclear weapons because CHINA gave them. It was no surprise that Bin Laden was found in Pakistan. They murder Hindus, Christians, and any unbeliever. Pakistan needs to be toppled and Islam needs to be banned everywhere. Bring Dar-Al-Harb to them all.
Voytek Gagalka says
Not only aid to Pakistan should be cut, also to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and you name ANY Mohammedan country until and unless they will dramatically alter their hostile attitude toward us (open and covert). And if they still misbehave, take over their oil fields. (If they would not have so much money they would never pose any threat to us.)
eduardo odraude says
Aid to Saudi Arabia should be cut off until they stop cutting off heads of atheists, Christians, and Jews, protect freedom of speech, and publicly denounce Muhammad’s orders to kill apostates from Islam. International sanctions should be imposed on all trade with Saudi Arabia until the country abandons its totalitarian ways.
Demsci says
Daring thought, Eduardo. Seeing that right now Saudi Arabia seems to be “in our corner”. Oh,, not because of the old tired argument that we in the West need their oil. America certainly does not anymore, although it’s valuable allies do a bit.
Saudi Arabia’s “strong man” Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) (the kings son and heir) is firmly against Iran and rather pro America at the moment, I gather.
And why not? His country, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is in BIG trouble. The price of oil has “tanked” due to the American “Shale gas AND oil revolution” and experts think it will not recover to those heights the KSA budget requires to keep it’s citizens quiet.
That said, why not give up on them too, if need be? There are plenty of other more worthy oil suppliers and allies in the world. And as you say, KSA maintains some UGLY laws and policies. When they come begging why don;’t we squeeze concessions out of them? It might well be that, since a long time, it is they that need US (United States and the West) more than we need them!
Oliver says
The Saudis share intelligence with Israel and the US.
All unofficial.
A Saudi prince about 18 or so mpnths ago said if Hamas and Israel go to war he will give or loan Israel money for zrms, etc.
Chand says
Voytek Gagalka and eduardo odraude,
Correct.
Saudis should be globally confronted for their official propagation of Wahabbim, the main core of today’ jihadi terrorism. They are funding schools, mosques, Islamic centers that teach the doctrine of hatred for kafirs/infidels, poisoning human minds from childhood, especially to the poor, vulnerable masses worldwide.
Susan B says
What about the fact that the Saudis treat females as property with no rights. Where is the outrage from the UN????
gravenimage says
Note that Chand is now characterizing murderous Jihadists as “poor, vulnerable masses”. *Ugh*.
Carolyne says
And so long as Turkey remains in the hands of Erdogan, hostile to the West and a fundamentalist Muslim himself, they should have no money from the US, be ejected from NATO and never be a part of the EU, although that leftist organization is fading fast.
gravenimage says
Agreed, Carolyne.
jewdog says
Very encouraging. Trump has a heart, but sometimes I think his head is missing.
Carolyne says
President Trump has an IQ which is higher than any other President. He has a very smart head and is working toward his ends. This cannot be done overnight, but will be done. I resent your comment about his “Head.” You are incorrect.
underbed cat says
Good news. The U.S. has been handing money out to sharia based islamic ruled countries, foolishly. All that money looking for Osama and he was down the street form the Pakistan military base….they just could not find him…ya right Mr. Ka i…but of course to muslims OBL was not technically a terrorist….by sharia standards we were.
No need to support any more sharia based ideology and the leaders who follow it.
underbed cat says
Good news. The U.S. has been handing money out to sharia based islamic ruled countries, foolishly. All that money looking for Osama and he was down the street form the Pakistan military base….they just could not find him…ya right Mr. Ka i…but of course to muslims OBL was not technically a terrorist….by sharia standards we were.
No need to support any more sharia based ideology and the leaders who follow it.
That’s quite a prop plane that buzzed and nose dived spins over lakefront.
Terry Gain says
I read the post and my first thought was” just when you are about to give upon Trump …..
Then I read Robert Spencer’s comment. LOL.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
At the end of every day Trump finds an office where no one can hear his phone call. He calls Bannon and says, “okay, okay I did that. So Steve, what do I do next?”
Carolyne says
And you know this how?
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
I guess I would never make it as a comedy writer.
(But at the heart of every joke there is always a kernel of truth; and surely there is more than a kernel truth in this.)
Peterson says
In the whole world there is no bigger rouge country than Pakistan. Since 90s their business is exporting terrorism.They hate US and Israel from their heart but happy to take their money. More than cooperating with US they prefer to blackmail US and take money.The North Korea and Iran nuclear issues we are facing to day is due to Pakistan selling their nuclear technology. Christians are living in a very pathetic persecuted lives there.Also the blasphemy laws are there to prosecute anybody at will.
Chand says
Right, Peterson,
very true.
Hindus in Pakistan have almost been exterminated. But Pakistan will not change its behavior as long as the Saudi Wahabbis (the real Islamic State) and their Gulf allies continue to prop it up. And China is using Pakistan for its strategic goals against India.
Also the Pakis might start selling their nuke tech to Jihadis to make money! Saudi Arabia is apparently ready to buy some nukes from them a soon a they think Iran has developed nuclear weapons.
Carolyne says
I believe you to be right about Pakistan, Peterson.
Matthieu Baudin says
One can only wonder what the Pakistan/China strategic relationship will develop into once the U.S. withdraws from their ongoing, one way, parasitic relationship.
Nicola Timmerman says
Well obviously Pakistan shoyld be cut off as we know they harboured Bin Laden not far from tbeir top milutary school. By the way is that doctor eho helped us find bin Laden by pretending to give vacines still in prison?
gravenimage says
A couple of months ago Trump vowed to help free him. I have not been able to find any information since then.
sidney penny says
Why just military aid, why not all aid?
“Washington is being ripped off by Islamabad”
Ripped off-Trump is right.
Has Trump just realised that Pakistan is two faced?
James Stamulis says
God bless you Mr. Trump!!!
mortimer says
Foreign aid should be linked to progress in human rights. Handing money to dictators who oppress their people is not a way to make the world better.
gravenimage says
So true, Mortimer.
mortimer says
It’s obvious that ‘elements within the Pak military’ are supporting jihadism. WE KNOW THAT. Those bearded wonders should all be retired pronto. The jihadists in the Pak military are stirring the pot in Afghastlistan. They are causing instability, impoverishment and death in the name of jihad.
It’s absurd for the Pak military to claim they cannot stop jihad if they want.
gravenimage says
It isn’t just the Pakistani military. Support for Islamic Jihad is rife in the Pakistani government.
Mark T says
Pakistan is full of madrasas that are terrorist training schools. If that country was against terrorism they would shut them down.
steve brown says
America giving money or aid to the PLO or any of the 56 Nations of the Organization of Cooperation or Western Europe or Canada is like giving a serial killer a free pass to abduct and slaughter …
moeped says
Don’t give up on Trump, ever. He is surrounded by traitors and enemies who undermine his every move. He is attacked constantly from all sides. He wants to do what’s right for the West but he has land mines around him in every direction. Have faith in him, he needs it.
gravenimage says
Trump to ‘cut all military aid to Pakistan’, thinks US is being ‘ripped off’
……………………..
Absolutely true. Kudos to President Trump for saying so. I just hope he can do something about it.
alex says
Excellent news. Please follow through on this musing. No more money at all for Pakistan.
underbed cat says
I was upset about MacMaster and Bannon leaving, but I still support our President and want him to succeed, I do not want any harm to come to him and think his statement about Charlottesville, and media uproar and the hostile smears missed the point that not one would have been injured or killed if the protesters were kept apart and should not have arrived with weapons to inflict injury…I believe he explained the villified group had a permit, legally, the protesting group did not have a right to be violent. It you don’t agree ignore them, the President condemned both sides that is not excusing….yes they both turned violence… but they still no matter how unlikable had a right…so in the future when a group wants to rally you don’t like, just stay away save a life and property. Bad ideas get ignored fade away.
Bruce Barker says
After reading most comments it appears most of you are woefully uninformed about U-S military aid to Palistan. The assistance began as a means of propping up the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan Pakistani military and civilian officials were supposed to transfer money to the Muj in Peshawar and to provide the rebels WITH arms and supplies directly through the Kybber. At least half the funds ended up in Pakistani pockets. THAT’S where it still goes.
dumbledoresarmy says
From Mr Spencer’s introduction – “We can only hope that he will follow through, and not be persuaded by McMaster that all Pakistan needs is a few more U.S. billions to turn it into a reliable ally.”
I hope that Mr Spencer has written to the President, before even posting this article, to express commendation for this *excellent* idea of cutting off the ‘aid’ tap – that is, the jizya or ‘tribute’ – that the US has paid to Pakistan for far, far too long, whilst receiving in return absolutely nothing worth having… and a great deal of trouble (e.g. Times Square Bomber, Lady Al Qaeda, David Headley etc etc etc).
Cut ’em off. Cut ’em right off. Squeeze ’em till they howl.
Give Mr Trump the words of a brilliant Islamophile scholar, David McCutchion, on the subject of Pakistan – “Fanaticism plus Machiavellianism plus brutality equals Islamic Pakistan”. Puts it in a nutshell.
And… think of the money the US would save!! All that money, currently vanishing into the bottomless pit of corruption and jihad-fomentation that is hideous human-rights-abusing mohammedan Pakistan, that wouldn’t be, any more; that could be redirected to other, more fruitful purposes.