Kerry-Lugar Bill
Michelle Malsbury, BSBM, MM
October 28, 2009
Yesterday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Dick Lugar (R-IN) introduced a bill [the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act] intended to enhance relations between the USA and Pakistan. (Stockman, F., 2009) This is the second time this bill has been floated in the Senate, but this time it appears to have more widespread support. The Kerry-Lugar Bill promises $1.5 Billion dollars per year, for five years running concurrently, in aid for non-military economic assistance to the people of Pakistan which is something they so desperately need.
Today President Obama will meet with Presidents Karzai and Zardari to discuss how best to counter the uptick in violence in that region. (Stockman, F., 2009) This meeting is a crucial first step in creating a lasting and durable partnership to thwart terror in that part of the world. Tomorrow there will be a luncheon at the Capitol hosted by Senators Kerry and Lugar for Karzai and Zardari that will attempt to make formal plans for sending a diplomatic envoy to that region lead by Richard Holbrooke.
Conditions required under this plan range from certification that the Pakistani military are making an serious effort to prevent Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations from operating within Pakistans borders, to discontinuing the Taliban from using Pakistani territory as sanctuary to plan and enact acts of terror on Afghanistan, to President Obama preparing a detailed report outlining US policy with regard to Pakistan and strategic plan with measurable objectives to be achieved with Pakistan toward this end. (Stockman, F., 2009) Some of the tasks/objectives included in this strategic plan are: police reform including more equipment and training, independent judicial systems, promotion of human rights, political pluralism, independent media, anti-corruption measures for the government including greater transparency and accountability, and efforts to stop the drug trade.
In addition to those objectives outlined above there is provision for enhanced and sustainable economic growth including use of natural resources to foster development of new technologies for energy production and clean drinking water that translate into job creation and support workers rights. (Stockman, F., 2009) Provisions are made for increased access to education, especially for women and children with emphasis on vocational training and higher education that can help strengthen the areas of public health and agricultural food safety toward the betterment of her people. There are benchmarks that must be met and that are to be reviewed at regular intervals to ascertain if the desired results are being achieved or if there needs to be a change in strategy in order to better meet them.
Twice a year there is required a formal report from the President to congress on the progress made in Pakistan that is targeted at ferreting out waste, abuse, and fraud. (Stockman, F., 2009) Furthermore, the Secretary of the State, Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Security will meet with congress annually to report and discuss the progress of Pakistan´s security forces, as well as, an in-depth "cross-border" strategy devised collectively between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
For the first time America has come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with terror, economic, educational, and human rights problems between Pakistan and Afghanistan in meaningful ways for their people. The Kerry-Lugar Bill provides a little something for everyone by helping to support training and equipment for the police and security forces to fight terror from within as well as broad economic/educational incentives targeted at helping the people of Pakistan to work toward a better quality of life. Kudo´s for Kerry-Lugar in this bipartisan approach toward creating better working relationships around the world.
Reference:
Stockman, Farah. Boston Globe. 10/27/09. Political Insider.
Today President Obama will meet with Presidents Karzai and Zardari to discuss how best to counter the uptick in violence in that region. (Stockman, F., 2009) This meeting is a crucial first step in creating a lasting and durable partnership to thwart terror in that part of the world. Tomorrow there will be a luncheon at the Capitol hosted by Senators Kerry and Lugar for Karzai and Zardari that will attempt to make formal plans for sending a diplomatic envoy to that region lead by Richard Holbrooke.
Conditions required under this plan range from certification that the Pakistani military are making an serious effort to prevent Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations from operating within Pakistans borders, to discontinuing the Taliban from using Pakistani territory as sanctuary to plan and enact acts of terror on Afghanistan, to President Obama preparing a detailed report outlining US policy with regard to Pakistan and strategic plan with measurable objectives to be achieved with Pakistan toward this end. (Stockman, F., 2009) Some of the tasks/objectives included in this strategic plan are: police reform including more equipment and training, independent judicial systems, promotion of human rights, political pluralism, independent media, anti-corruption measures for the government including greater transparency and accountability, and efforts to stop the drug trade.
In addition to those objectives outlined above there is provision for enhanced and sustainable economic growth including use of natural resources to foster development of new technologies for energy production and clean drinking water that translate into job creation and support workers rights. (Stockman, F., 2009) Provisions are made for increased access to education, especially for women and children with emphasis on vocational training and higher education that can help strengthen the areas of public health and agricultural food safety toward the betterment of her people. There are benchmarks that must be met and that are to be reviewed at regular intervals to ascertain if the desired results are being achieved or if there needs to be a change in strategy in order to better meet them.
Twice a year there is required a formal report from the President to congress on the progress made in Pakistan that is targeted at ferreting out waste, abuse, and fraud. (Stockman, F., 2009) Furthermore, the Secretary of the State, Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Security will meet with congress annually to report and discuss the progress of Pakistan´s security forces, as well as, an in-depth "cross-border" strategy devised collectively between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
For the first time America has come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with terror, economic, educational, and human rights problems between Pakistan and Afghanistan in meaningful ways for their people. The Kerry-Lugar Bill provides a little something for everyone by helping to support training and equipment for the police and security forces to fight terror from within as well as broad economic/educational incentives targeted at helping the people of Pakistan to work toward a better quality of life. Kudo´s for Kerry-Lugar in this bipartisan approach toward creating better working relationships around the world.
Reference:
Stockman, Farah. Boston Globe. 10/27/09. Political Insider.
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