On the recordMay 17, 2012
I appreciate the gentleman from Washington yielding me 2 minutes. I strongly urge opposition to this amendment with some heavy heart because some of the things that my good colleague has said may be accurate; much of it is inflammatory and not accurate. But nevertheless, I don't want to be seen as an apologist for Pakistan. But by the same token, we have trimmed the amount of money subject to this authorization and to this amendment by half. We have strengthened the controls around that money to require Pakistan to certify to us, to Secretary Panetta, that, in fact, this money is being spent in the fight against counterterrorism. {time} 1600 We will have additional amendments on floor this afternoon that don't have any opposition, which will further strengthen that certification process. And by restricting all funds, under the DOD position, simply plays into the bad guys' hands in Pakistan. It will give them no incentives in which to work with us and it will further their strength and resolve to close the cross-border, overland passage of U.S. military goods to assist us with the fight in Afghanistan. While my good colleague has much greater experience with some of those folks in that part of the world than I do, nevertheless, I stand in opposition to his amendment. It is a meat cleaver when we ought to be going at it the way we've done it--by trimming the money back, putting restrictions on that money that will force the Pakistanis in order to get it.…
