Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee - Democracy, Authoritarianism and Terrorism in Contemporary Pakistan
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Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee - Democracy, Authoritarianism and Terrorism in Contemporary Pakistan
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REP. BRAD SHERMAN (D-CA): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Never before have lawyers been so popular. Shakespeare must be turning over in his grave. (Light laughter.)
One question we have is: Do we have a Pakistan policy or do we have a Musharraf policy? Let me ask a specific hypothetical. What if Musharraf imprisons Bhutto? Is it clear that at that point we would cut off aid?
MR. NEGROPONTE: Your first question, do we have a Musharraf policy or do we have a Pakistan policy, I think the answer to that is we have a Pakistan policy.
REP. SHERMAN: I -- that was a rhetorical question because I knew what the answer would be.
MR. NEGROPONTE: Right. I understand.
REP. SHERMAN: Now, what do we do --
MR. NEGROPONTE: The other one is a hypothetical that, I think, raises a prospect that in my mind would be -- would create an extraordinary dramatic political situation in that country.
REP. SHERMAN: Hardly -- I didn't -- you know, I -- there were no UFOs in that question.
MR. NEGROPONTE: Well, you want my answer to the hypothetical. I don't -- I just -- I'm reluctant to do that.
REP. SHERMAN: Let me phrase it --
MR. NEGROPONTE: But I think it's a very -- it's a worst-case hypothesis.
REP. SHERMAN: It's hardly worst-case. I mean Bhutto has, in effect, said that there are elements in the Musharraf government who are responsible for the attempt on her life. It doesn't seem unlikely or extreme -- it certainly doesn't seem beyond discussion that Musharraf would imprison her at this time.
One concern I have, Mr. Chairman, is how we are going to advocate democracy in Pakistan when there has been so little rule of law and democracy in the area of foreign policy here in the United States. You can't think about Pakistan without thinking of how our committee was treated on the F-16 issue, and how other Cabinet members -- not Mr. Negroponte -- or Ambassador Negroponte -- have, in effect, testified before Congress that not even the procedural aspects of the Iran Sanctions Act will be followed because the administration doesn't think that laws are binding.
I should give you a chance to comment. I realize that's a little bit outside the scope of these hearings. But can you give a reason why the administration regards the Iran Sanctions Act as merely the act of a consultative body rather than a legislative body?
MR. NEGROPONTE: I'm afraid, Congressman, I --
REP. SHERMAN: Well, you do know there's an Iran Sanctions Act. You do know you're supposed to at least identify those corporations investing more than $20 million in the Iran oil sector. You do know the State Department has simply refused to do so for six years -- or seven years, throughout the term of this administration. You do know that's a violation of law. And the idea that the rule of law is something we're going to preach in Pakistan is a little difficult under all those circumstances.
MR. NEGROPONTE: Right. I'm afraid -- I'm sure you'll understand that I didn't come prepared to answer that question.
REP. SHERMAN: Well, I would hope you would furnish an answer for the record.
MR. NEGROPONTE: I will certainly do that.
REP. SHERMAN: Has my time expired or do I still --
REP. LANTOS: You have about a minute and 18 seconds.
REP. SHERMAN: Okay. Have we -- if we have a policy for the Pakistan people, why have we provided not so much economic aid, not so much aid to help the fight against al Qaeda where, in the North-West Frontier Provinces, the Pakistani forces are -- still have bolt action rifles? But why have such -- why has such a significant portion of the aid been of the military devices that will be useful to the army of Pakistan in confronting India or another conventional force? Why the -- what do the F-16s either in the war against terror or to raise living standards among the Pakistani people?
MR. NEGROPONTE: Congressman, I -- well, first of all, with respect to security assistance of various kinds, which is admittedly a substantial part of the assistance -- but we have also given and are giving and would like to continue giving a considerable economic and social and development assistance as well.
REP. SHERMAN: But the military aid is the lion's share.
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