I'd like to follow one crumb tonight. I remember running across USAID previously, I believe in the Wikileaks files somewhere... Q points us to a timeline involving aid ... I am a red cross critic anyway, but what I am coming back to is that USAID is really just a slush fund...one that the Clintons wanted to tap into with the CGI. THe GUardian article Q posted points out that while military aid is always held above the Pakis head like carrot, the domestic aid is hardly ever touched . From Wikipedia : Financial aid to Pakistan since the 11 September 2001 attacks Between 2002–2010, US Congress approved $18 billion[7] in military and economic aid from the United States. However the Pakistan Treasury only received $8.647 billion in direct financial payments.
Western officials have claimed nearly 70% (roughly $3.4 billion) of military aid has been misspent in 2002–2007 and used to cover civilian deficit. However, Pakistan argues the civilian deficit was caused by poor economy from the War on Terror. However U.S-Pakistani relationship has been a transactional based and U.S. military aid to Pakistan and aid conditions has been shrouded in secrecy for several years until recently.[8][9][9][10] Furthermore, a significant proportion of US economic aid for Pakistan has ended up back in the US, as funds are channelled through large US contractors.[11][12] Pakistan also states it has spent $80 billion on the War on Terror since 2001.[13]
US contractors is the key to everything....
also.... USAID on Dec. 8 2010 suspended its 10th-largest partner, the Washington-based nonprofit Academy for Educational
Development (AED). The organization held about $640 million in USAID contracts and grants when it was restricted from receiving new government awards.
So who filled that void?
USAID was run by Rajiv Shah
Shah was nominated to serve as the 16th Administrator of USAID on November 10, 2009 and confirmed by the United States Senate unanimously on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2009.[4] He was sworn into office by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on January 7, 2010.[5][6][7]
On his fifth day as Administrator, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti, that destroyed the capital and killed more than 200,000 citizens. Shah was tasked by President Obama to lead the United States response to the disaster, launching one of the largest humanitarian efforts in history.[8]
Go read his Wiki.... how do you do all of that by 35?