MetaChat - "Iraq redux? Obama seeks funds for Pakistan super-embassy"

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28 May 2009

"Iraq redux? Obama seeks funds for Pakistan super-embassy" The U.S. is embarking on a $1 billion crash program to expand its diplomatic presence in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, another sign that the Obama administration is making a costly, long-term commitment to war-torn South Asia, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The White House has asked Congress for — and seems likely to receive — $736 million to build a new U.S. embassy in Islamabad, along with permanent housing for U.S. government civilians and new office space in the Pakistani capital. The scale of the projects rivals the giant U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which was completed last year after construction delays at a cost of $740 million. Senior State Department officials said the expanded diplomatic presence is needed to replace overcrowded, dilapidated and unsafe facilities and to support a "surge" of civilian officials into Afghanistan and Pakistan ordered by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

post by: Joe Beese at: 09:13 | 7 comments

When you make a post? That little box down there with the [MI]? That means "more inside". That way we don't have long posts eating up a lot of screen space.

posted by Ardiril 28 May | 09:36

psst, MeFi is over there.

posted by Eideteker 28 May | 09:42

No! your time travel must have destroyed that, too!

posted by muddgirl 28 May | 09:47

Looks like it destroyed livejournal, too. =\

R.I.P. LJ!

posted by Eideteker 28 May | 09:52

But seriously, Joe, if you would use the {MI} button on these large cut-n-pastes, that would be excellent. It helps those of us who access the site via mobile, especially.

posted by BoringPostcards 28 May | 10:52

Hey Joe!

posted by Ardiril 28 May | 10:59

You know, one of the features of a Realism-centered foreign policy is that our interests do not change when our administration changes. Our commitment to Pakistan is not new, and predates our relationship with India (which used to be "non-aligned" where Pakistan was our boy in the Cold War). Our commitment remains strong despite many changes in government in Pakistan, now democratic once again. And Pakistan has nukes, alone among less-developed nations, and is widely considered on the verge of becoming a failed state. I don't see a whole lot of options short of doubling down.

Did you have a point? I suppose I must ask.

posted by dhartung 28 May | 15:57

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