Senate Dems On Pakistan: U.S. Here To Stay

Look for the United States to be sending resources not only to Afghanistan, but Pakistan and the rest of the region for the foreseeable future, a group of swing Democratic senators said toward the end of their fact-finding trip to the Middle East.

The five senators, all members of the Moderate Democrats Working Group led by Evan Bayh, have spent the past few days touring the area and are scheduled to return to Washington on Wednesday. On a conference call Tuesday, the senators said a whirlwind tour of meetings with Pakistani officials convinced them that further U.S. commitment wouldn't go to waste. They also made it clear that U.S. commitment wouldn't be ending anytime soon.

Alaska Senator Mark Begich said the U.S. was ready for a "long-term commitment to Pakistan, recognizing that we're not just there for the moment, that we want to be there assisting them in their long-term economic and social sustainability." He cited the need for increased diplomacy and trade with India. "Let me make sure we emphasize one point, that it's a regional approach, not just Pakistan by itself," Begich said.

The U.S. delegation met with a wide variety of military and political officials, Delaware Senator Tom Carper said, and they all told the senators the same thing. "They said this is just not about a military victory," Carper said. "What we must do is raise the standard of living, the quality of life in the people in these areas along the northwest border."

The nation-building foreseen by the Democratic senators involves management at the local level and efforts to improve Pakistan's military capacity. Carper highlighted the rebuilding and repopulation of Kashmir, as well as maintenance of Pakistan's relatively small helicopter fleet, as top priorities. But he said U.S. forces will have plenty of time to think about other projects during a period of "nation-building governance."

"That's what they want. That's what they need," he said.

The senators are aware that U.S. anti-terror funding to Pakistan since 9/11 has had a habit of disappearing, but Colorado's Mark Udall said they heard "a much different tone" in discussions with the nation's business community. "There are no guarantees," Udall said. "The past is illustrative and can be educational but the past doesn't necessarily have to be prologue, either."

Further outreach to moderate clerics is also necessary, Udall said, to limit the influence of jihadists in the region.

Begich, Carper and Udall were joined on the trip by Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. All but Carper are freshman senators.

The nation building in the region, far from nearing an end, is just beginning. As with Pakistan, Carper said investment in Afghan infrastructure and economic growth must be as much a part of U.S. strategy going forward as importing trainers to expand the national army. He declined to discuss even a ballpark date for military withdrawal.

"We're beginning our buildup now," he said.

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Comments

[AfzaalKhan]

08:36 AM on 05/28/2009

I know it won't gonna change anyone's mind and power to be could care less on what i say, but can i as a pakistani give a freindly advise to americans, plz plz stop throwing good money after bad money, yes Pakistani need financial assistance but giving money to our army or politicians wouldn't do any good at all they will use it to line thier own pockets. Instead of money if u really want to help Pakistan, do trade thats all is needed. We can take care of rest and please please look what people want not what sob leadershop telling u cuz they have no clue themselves.

[sarabono]

12:21 AM on 05/28/2009

Obama better be very careful in Afghanistan. This is starting to look a lot like how the environment was at the time LBJ decided to massively increase American Troops in Vietnam.

[sarabono]

12:10 AM on 05/28/2009

I thought Democrats were going to bring home the troops and that Democrats did not like War and the expense of War?

Has Congress Declared War for Afghanistan Operations yet? Where are our UN resolutions regarding this?

This is starting out just like the Vietnam buildup and War under LBJ.

[D-V-H]

06:28 PM on 05/27/2009

It seems as though these politicians understand that the solution to the problems in the ME will not be solved at the barrel of a gun. There must be sustained social & economic improvement for the violence to stop.

I only wish that we had started implementation of this policy long, long ago. I guess better late than never.

[Bouddicca]

05:30 PM on 05/27/2009

The Taliban are taking over Pakistan and they must be stopped.
Heads out of the sand please.

[EHarold]

08:43 PM on 05/27/2009

And they grow stronger with every civilian we kill.

[sarabono]

12:16 AM on 05/28/2009

That is what LBJ said about the Red's in Vietnam. Not good enough reason to continue an undeclared War.

[Plus15]

05:03 PM on 05/27/2009

Begich has been a Senator for twenty (20) minutes he already knows which way the wind is blowing. An Alaskan expert

[GreatNews27]

04:59 PM on 05/27/2009

Not if we vote your sorry asses out of office and vote in someone with a lick of common sense!! Goddamn warmongers.

[Redheadwithopinions]

04:55 PM on 05/27/2009

Oh leave Mr. Begich alone. He's a good guy. He was our mayor for a long time. He's not used to all the Washington hub-bub yet and my guess going to Pakistan was a big deal for him. It is hard to go somewhere like that and not see that these people need help, and harder still not to offer it if we can...and we can...because we can.

[GeorgeP922]

05:03 PM on 05/27/2009

Yea, because we all know the politicians get to go on walks alone and talk to the people.
All while being surrounded by pakastani and American military.

For security reasons alone that is ridiculous.

You should be ashamed that your BRAND new Senator went running as fast as he could to the most corporatist Democratic caucus in America. The DLC and Bluedogs are sinking at the same rate as their Republican buddies, why would he throw away his future to align himself with a group that is hated by their own party.

Its just sad to see such a young and promising Senator already beholden to corporate masters and Mark Penn (who controlls Evan Bayh, who now controlls Begich).
I can understand that after a couple of years, not the first 2 months.

[sarabono]

12:12 AM on 05/28/2009

With money borrowed from the Red Chinese which will be paid back by our grandchildren.

[GeorgeP922]

04:52 PM on 05/27/2009

Ok everybody, don't laugh too hard.

Begich, the kneepad wearing loser from Alaska is the LAST freshmen holdout on the newly named BlueDog Caucus, now they call them selves the Working Dem Caucus?

WHAT!!?!

And what happened to the gang of 18 blue dogs, only 5 now, what happened there Bayh?
(we can thank Obama surrogates Webb and McCaskill who broke up the group)

Man, Democrats wake up, the DLC is trying to step into the GOP shoes and take us down.

How many have ever heard of the organization called Third Way, started by MARK PENN and Evan Bayh.
Convenient they endorse this "club"
http://www.thirdway.org/press/release/71

Don't ever think for a second the enemy only wears an (R) on their uniform.

[danielet]

04:24 PM on 05/27/2009

Let there be no question about it, Pakistan is a dangerous place that needs a lot of fixing. But a recent RAND study HOW TERRORISM ENDS makes a very good case for INDIGENOUS POLICE WORK, not sloppy US military assaults and drones. The more Pakistan focuses on its own Islamic terrorists, the more it solves its social ills. But the more we pay for it, the more in debted we are to China. China would never allow Pakistan to fall to the Taliban, so let it pay for the atruggle. Ironically, "moderate" Dem Senators would sink soooooo much money into Pakistan but are recalcitrant to investing in a national health care system but are the kind of Dems-- like Republicans-- supporting needless corrupt corporate war toys projects, just like the neocons. What have we gotten from $ billions invested in Pakistani military? We made a big mistake supporting the Pak ISI that created the Taliban and alQaeda; are we now going to provide more money so the ISI can try to have it both ways? Obama is begining to play too many fields at once. He can't be all things to all men, so he would do well establishing the philosophical standards of the party he leads. China would never let Pakistan fall to the Taliban. Let it spend its money to support this war instead of lending it to us to do it. Perhaps China and Pakistan will do better than Pakistan did with us.

[super]

10:05 PM on 05/27/2009

That's wishful thinking about China. China did very well indeed with Pakistan under the control of the ISI, who spawned the Taliban to foment trouble in Afghanistan and Kashmir, thereby distracting the Soviets, the US and India.

[Eidolas]

04:16 PM on 05/27/2009

Meet the new boss.

[GeorgeP922]

04:53 PM on 05/27/2009

Who? Evan Bayh, Mark Penn?

This article is simply about a lost and right wing segment of the Democratic party grasping for power.

Like Republicans it is not beyond them to exploit war for their political purposes.

Sad this site in this article is endorsing their treachery.

[christopherflynn]

04:06 PM on 05/27/2009

pakistan sux ...so why are we there?

[TheImpaler]

04:03 PM on 05/27/2009

This is worrisome :-(

[OB-GYN]

04:01 PM on 05/27/2009

No, we're not.

[sheilaofmiami]

04:00 PM on 05/27/2009

We never left Germany after WWII, why am I bothering to feel surprise?

We are acting like the empire we are not.