tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625076107995960519.post1520573965687664019..comments2024-01-26T03:40:32.465-05:00Comments on Breath of the Beast: Why We're in "A Lot of Trouble"Yaacov Ben Moshehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711165551258127500noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1625076107995960519.post-70463867389540416652008-01-31T14:04:00.000-05:002008-01-31T14:04:00.000-05:00Yes, more difficulty.Why is Afghanistan so impor...Yes, more difficulty.<BR/><BR/>Why is Afghanistan so important?<BR/><BR/>Well, among other things. . .<BR/><BR/>* *<BR/>Pakistan has received more aid from Saudi Arabia than any country outside the Arab world since the 1960s. For example, in May 1998 when Pakistan was deciding whether to respond to India’s test of five nuclear weapons, the Saudis promised 50,000 barrels per day of free oil to help the Pakistanis cope with the economic sanctions that might be triggered by a counter test.<BR/><BR/>The Saudi oil commitment was a key to then Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif’s decision to proceed with testing. It cushioned the subsequent U.S. and EU sanctions on Pakistan considerably.<BR/><BR/>Official aid is matched by large investments from Saudi princes and from religious institutions. Much of the Pakistani madrassa educational system, for instance, is Saudi funded by private donors.<BR/><BR/>brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0128_saudi_arabia_riedel.aspx<BR/><BR/>============= Brookings Institution<BR/><BR/>Think, if India is our loyal friend / ally, then Saudi backed Pakistan is our ene.. problem?<BR/><BR/>Pakistan needs schools to offset the madrassah system, so balance is a long term effort.<BR/><BR/>No one said it would be easy. = TGTonyGuitarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02776707579617985174noreply@blogger.com