[Peace-discuss] Ron Paul on "Af-Pak"

[E. Wayne Johnson]

      On Af-Pak: Stop "Helping"

While much of the country's attention is on other issues, a serious 
situation is developing in Pakistan that threatens to plunge us into 
another fruitless and bloody war. It is very frustrating to see that 
many who were so vehemently against the wars of the last administration 
have suddenly lost interest in foreign policy simply because we were 
promised change.

Those still paying attention know that nothing could be further from the 
truth. Very little has changed, except perhaps rhetoric, but what does 
that matter when the bombing missions are only getting deadlier? Rather 
than drawing down violent military interventions into the affairs of 
other countries, the new administration is escalating the foreign policy 
of the previous administration.

In Pakistan that entails the continuation and even escalation of 
military interventionism just across the border with Afghanistan. The 
targets are believed to be enclaves of Taliban militants, however, many 
innocent civilians have been caught in the deadly crossfire, severely 
damaging our image in the region. Many ordinary Afghanis and Pakistanis 
that never had cause to take up arms against us are being provided with 
motivation as family and friends are killed and maimed by our clumsy and 
indiscriminate bombs. Is it worth it for us to be involved in this way 
at such a high cost of blood, treasure and goodwill? Is there anything 
to be gained by this policy?

We are helping the Taliban and other enemies to actually gain numbers 
and strength, while driving them down from the mountains in the border 
regions deeper into Pakistan, where they have been making a menace of 
themselves. As our bombings follow them, beleaguered villagers have 
little choice but to leave their homes and join the swelling numbers of 
refugees or take up arms and join the fight against us.

Nonetheless, instead of recognizing the cascading unintended 
consequences of trying to deal with Pakistan's problems, all signs in 
Washington point to further escalation. Both the House and Senate have 
newly introduced bills to triple foreign aid to Pakistan, from $500 
million to $1.5 billion, with every indication that the leadership in 
Pakistan is taking advantage of the situation with the Taliban to milk 
more aid from the US taxpayer. We are broke. This is money we don't 
have, and it is an insult to the American people to run up the national 
credit card for this type of military adventurism after many Americans 
thought they were voting for peace.

The bottom line is our involvement in Pakistan's internal problems is 
not making us safer. In fact, we are adding to the numbers of our 
enemies and increasing the threats to our security here at home. We are 
inciting the very terrorism and extremism we are trying to stop. Every 
dollar we send, even if it is for humanitarian purposes, frees up 
resources to make war and potentially prop up unpopular leaders. The 
factions and politics of the Middle East are irrational and dangerous. 
We play with fire when we meddle in their affairs, and we isolate 
ourselves diplomatically by making more enemies than friends. We need to 
bring our troops home, end all foreign aid, and maintain a neutral 
stance on the world stage. It, in fact, is the only foreign policy we 
can afford right now, and it would gain us more friends and trading 
partners than our bombs ever could. Besides, that's what the 
Constitution permits and our founders strongly advised.

http://www.house.gov/htbin/blog_inc?BLOG,tx14_paul,blog,999,All,Item%20not%20found,ID=090511_2895,TEMPLATE=postingdetail.shtml

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