On Thursday, June 11th, while I was vacationing in secessionist Texas, our Republican Congressman Peter Roskam voted against H.R. 1886: Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2009, choosing to play political games at the expense of national security and the fight against terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The bill, introduced by Democrat Howard Berman of California, provides increased military aid to Pakistan designed to improve its ability to conduct counter-terrorism efforts aimed at defeating Al Quaeda. It also increases economic aid with a focus on strengthening Pakistan’s democratic institutions and offering opportunities to its citizens to counteract recruiting efforts by extremist groups.
The measure provides for rigorous oversight and auditing (an anathema to Roskam and his Republican colleagues who generally disdain Congressional oversight and prefer a blank check approach – remember the pallets of cash being dumped in Iraq during the Bush years). This oversight allergy is probably related to Republicans’ longstanding coziness with defense contractors. The bill also requires that military aid be directed through the democratically elected government of Pakistan, that it be used for counter-terrorism purposes, and that Pakistan make demonstrable progress in counter-terrorism efforts as a condition to continuation.
H.R. 1886 also creates Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Goods produced in these areas could be exported duty-free to the United States. The idea is to promote work alternatives to hamper recruitment by the Taliban and Al Quaeda. A condition for producers to participate is their cooperation with a labor monitoring program to protect worker rights and maintain acceptable working conditions. This condition caused widespread fits amongst Roskam and his fellow anti-labor Republicans. God forbid we should do anything to protect workers. Why that’s Communism!
H.R. 1886 passed by a vote of 234-185. If I understand this correctly, the bill was incorporated as passed into H.R. 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which will now have to be reconciled with a Senate version that is lighter on oversight.
Related posts:
- Terrorists are OK… If They’re Our Terrorists
- Peter Roskam Votes Against Chemical and Water Security Act
- As President Obama Pursues Peace in Middle East, Peter Roskam Seeks Only to Fan Flames
- Roskam Turns Blind Eye to Colombian Anti-Union Violence
- Anti-Labor Peter Roskam Abandons Air Safety in Favor of Union Busting
