What Did Your $10 Billion Pay For?

Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) and other lawmakers expressed disappointment last month that the U.S. did not harshly condemn Pakistan’s leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, after he imposed emergency rule and arrested thousands of his opponents. Many also are upset that Musharraf, a chief American ally in the war on terror, has not prevented al-Qaeda from regrouping in his country or tracked down Osama bin Laden—thought to be hiding in Pakistan—even though the U.S. currently gives that South Asian nation $3 billion a year in military aid. (Since 2004, we’ve provided $10 billion in assistance.) One possible reason for the lack of results: Most of the weapons that Pakistan requests from the U.S. are not useful in fighting terrorists, says Rick Barton of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Instead of focusing on al-Qaeda, which is the primary U.S. target, “Pakistan’s military is getting F-16 planes and other advanced arms to defend against its No. 1 enemy—India.” This may end, however: The U.S. government says it will re-examine its aid to Pakistan.

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