Conditions on Aid to Afghanistan And Pakistan

Floor Speech

CONDITIONS ON AID TO AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN -- (House of Representatives - May 06, 2009)

(Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee has come under some harsh criticism for suggesting the money we make available to Afghanistan and Pakistan be conditioned. Chairman Obey is right. When you consider the fact that we have put $33 billion into Afghanistan and $12 billion into Pakistan without conditions, you have to ask ``What has it gotten us?''

We seem to be losing the war in Afghanistan because the leadership of the enemy has a haven in Pakistan. Of all the money we have given to the military in Pakistan, they have 450,000 trained, equipped troops on the southern border with our ally India and one brigade on the north where we need them. Former members of the ISI affiliated with the Pak army located just south of Lahore, Pakistan trained and executed a massacre of 152 people in Mumbai, India.

They just released an extremist cleric that is arguing for sharia law across the land. They have just allowed the Swat Valley to be taken over by the Taliban. Of course we need our money conditioned. If they want American taxpayers' money, they need to start serving America's interests.

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