SUN EDITORIAL:

Message to Pakistan

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says any new partnership should be ‘two-way street’

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.

During her three days in Pakistan last week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s activities ranged from supportive, respectful diplomacy to direct give-and-take with journalists and students over American policies.

She made the visit, her first to Pakistan, to signal the United States’ willingness to strengthen its ties with the country by going well beyond the mostly unsuccessful anti-terrorist agenda that the Bush administration negotiated with the former dictatorial military regime.

On her first day she announced to the now democratically elected government that the United States would help repair Pakistan’s crumbling power system, a gesture intended to help bring back the firm alliance that existed decades ago before the rise of anti-West extremism in the Muslim world.

Few places have exhibited this extremism more than the tribal areas of Pakistan, which have become overrun with Taliban and al-Qaida. When the new Pakistani government began fighting them to recapture territory, they began striking back with horrific terrorism.

Pakistan’s resolve to keep fighting the terrorists, something it was only half-hearted about during the Bush years despite receiving billions of dollars in aid, has been supported by the U.S. with continued financial aid and extra shipments of military equipment.

Clinton praised the Pakistani government for its welcome resolve to fight back.

To her credit, however, not all of Clinton’s words were those of praise. For example, she criticized the country for its inefficiency in collecting taxes, which affects its ability to render proper social services.

And before a group of Pakastani journalists, who were persistently critical of how the U.S. has responded to 9/11, Clinton sharply and appropriately answered, “I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they (al-Qaida terrorists) are, and couldn’t get to them if they really wanted to.”

Through all of the heated criticism she heard from journalists and students, she sent the message that a partnership is a “two-way street,” meaning if the United States is willing to move forward on a new partnership, Pakistan should be, too.

It was a good message, one we hope takes hold.

Discussion: 6 comments so far…

By Future

10/31/09 at 3:14 a.m.

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For example, she [Secretary of State Hillary Clinton] criticized the country for its inefficiency in collecting taxes..and ..."I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they (al-Qaida terrorists) are, and couldn't get to them if they really wanted to."

So the LV Sun says this is "respectful diplomacy"
By fosimmons

10/31/09 at 5:52 a.m.

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Fellow Idiots: CriminalBush avoided confrontation with the Generals (paid them cash in the billions of dollars) in Pakistan knowing they were aware of the terriorists and where they were hiding as he and JackAssCheney foreplayed their illegal war in Iraq. He is, and remains, one of the foremost idiots in the world, bar none, including Imelda 'Dummie' Marcos (she sang and ate cake and drank champ. in the back of her private jet while her subjects starved to death) and Khadaffi. Don't forget that great CriminalBush quote 'great job Brownie!' while visiting New Orleans. Idiot. Please watch out as brother Jeb is in the Florida seagrapes awaiting the next Presidential run - we are in deep jeopardy on this guy who prays like CriminalBush and therefore is Mr.Right. The question so serious here is will our nation survive CriminalBush's eight years? In ruin now, this remains to be figured out. Thank You.
By SgtRock

10/31/09 at 7:45 a.m.

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I don't like Democrats or Obama but still I want them to be successful in matters of foreign policy and national security and growing the economy.

But every week goes by and they look like amateurs.

I worry for my country.
By LarryVegas

10/31/09 at 7:55 a.m.

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Here's fosimmons and all his name calling...
Sometimes I get the idea that fosimmons is a bitter person.

I believe the topic at hand is Pakistan and the job our Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is doing.

It's too bad that Hillary is not President. She shows a lot more strength then Obama. Maybe she will run against Obama in the next election. With ACORN and their political tricks out of the way, she just might be able to do it.
By neiman1

10/31/09 at 9:14 a.m.

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The most telling statement of Hillary was that "we tax everything that moves and doesn't move" and you don't tax anything. This was her view of how Pakistan must change.

What a government we have.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?p...
By Burrittobandit2

10/31/09 at 12:20 p.m.

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What we should do is blow up all the taxi's in the country; that will show them Pack e stans