Biden and Pakistan

[jillan]

Pakpac - a new lobbyist group in DC to address the needs and concerns of Pakistan.
They are so happy to have Biden as their main contact-


http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=119835

snips----

Now, as Pakistan is attempting to become a fully-functioning democracy again, is an important time for the Pakistani lobby to find new members and a new identity.


Despite its limited success, PAKPAC has maintained a consistent presence on Capitol Hill and on the 28th of June will have an event with Senator Joe Biden, newly elected Muslim congressman Andre Carson of Indiana and the first Muslim congressman in the US, Keith Ellison (who, incidentally, is a member of the India Caucus). Biden is one of the front-runners for getting the vice-presidential nod with Barack Obama and an expert on issues related to Pakistan.....(((sorry - I just love reading that in the international news :P)))

....It is eminently clear that the most pernicious issues affecting Pakistan today are those of terrorism, corruption and military dictatorship. Whoever decides to take the lead in lobbying has to focus on these three inter-related problems first and foremost.

Meeting with Senator Joe Biden and making him a centre-piece of any future Pakistan policy is a great idea. He may be up for being head of a Senatorial caucus. Demanding accountability and straight answers from ambassador Haqqani should be at the top of the list as well. Aitzaz Ahsan is on his way to the US right now, reportedly to meet with US officials; Pakistan's lobbyists should grab a hold of him to give him support (and give him some much needed advice as to whom he should keep as friends when he goes back). Another important issue has to do with finding a solution to FATA – whether it will be provincial autonomy or merging into NWFP. Finally, the lobbyists must set up an independent watch-dog body that gives unbiased reports to Pakistani ex-pats around the world. It's obvious that we cannot count on the Pakistani government to monitor itself.

There is nothing anywhere that says that a lobby has to be a lap-dog. The goal of a lobby is to work for a country. That means being honest about what the country most needs.

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That's the thing about lobbyist groups imho ~ sometimes they actually do good work like fight for worker's rights or the environment, or in this case, diplomacy.

[jillan]

1. Guess I am the only one following this ~ but ~ if anyone is reading, here is an expert on diplomacy

http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43069

Here we have a screwed up country with nukes, and the home to terrorist training camps.
Biden is doing all he can to bring security to Pakistan.

Biden as SoS (or VP) will help to bring peace to the world and improve America's standing all over the world.


Simply the best!

[WheelWalker]

3. I'm with you on this. I'm just a slow reader.

Your smilie with the tongue hanging out just CRACKS me up ! You use it at just the right places.

[jillan]

2. Some background about what and why Biden is doing all this -

http://thepost.com.pk/EditorialNews.aspx?dtlid=168954&catid=10