U.S. policymak-
ment" from Pakistan, now that that nation
world's most anti-American states. Even
has lost its strategic value to Washington and
worse, Pakistan's status as an unruly client
ers should reject
has become more of a burden than an asset as
state has fostered anti-American sentiment.
any idea of estab-
far as long-term U.S. interests (and values) are
Indeed, as Hitchens suggests, the pervasive
lishing perma-
concerned. U.S. policymakers should certain-
anti-Americanism that he found in Pakistan
ly reject any idea of establishing permanent
"springs exactly from this mendicant's-beg-
nent American
American military bases in the hostile politi-
ging-bowl arrangement. Pakistanis know that
military bases in
cal environment of Pakistan.65 Washington
they are bought and paid for, and so the way to
should also recognize that any effort to prop
assert pride is to spit in the face of those who
the hostile politi-
have owned and used them."68 It's time for
up the Pakistani military involves a major
cal environment
long-term risk--that the powerful military
Americans and Pakistanis to bring a sense of
of Pakistan.
machine of Pakistan will fall one day into the
normalcy and dignity into their relationship.
hands of a radical Islamic regime bent on
That means cutting Pakistan loose from its
going to war with India and exporting its ide-
status as a U.S. client.
ology to other parts of the world.
Direct U.S. economic assistance to the
Notes
government of Pakistan only helps to sustain
a corrupt, statist economic system and
1. Quoted in Carolyn Lochhead, "Bush Insists on
diverts funds to support the military
U.S. Resolve; U.S. Pledges Boost in Aid to Pakistan,"
San Francisco Chronicle, November 11, 2001.
buildup. That is not to say that the United
States should isolate Pakistan. To the con-
2. Quoted in Christopher de Bellaigue, "The
trary, the Bush administration and Congress
Perils of Pakistan," New York Review of Books,
should stress a commitment to integrating
November 15, 2001, p. 44.
Pakistan into the global economy, including
3. U.S. Department of State, "Joint U.S.-Pakistan
elimination of U.S. tariffs on Pakistani textile
Statement for President Musharraf's Visit to New
exports and encouragement of economic
York, November 10, 2001," www.state.gov/p/sa/
cooperation between India and Pakistan.66
rt/index.cfm?docid+6060.
Americans and Westerners should
4. Dennis Kux, The United States and Pakistan, 1947-
applaud a course leading to the moderniza-
2000: Disenchanted Allies (Baltimore: Johns
tion of Pakistan and its transformation into a
Hopkins University Press, 2001), p. 320.
secular and open society, but there isn't much
5. See Douglas Jehl, "Pakistan Is Facing Terrorist
that Washington can do to promote such a
Listing," New York Times, April 25, 1993.
change. Americans should not be required to
"reward" Pakistan for taking steps that are in
6. Richard Beeston, "Pakistan Will Let US Forces Use
its own interest, such as reforming its political
Border Airbases," Times (London), September 20, 2001.
and economic system, ending anti-American
7. Quoted in "Pakistan and the Taliban: About
and anti-Semitic propaganda, arresting ter-
Turn," The Economist, October 6, 2001.
rorists, or reducing tensions with India.67
Pakistan's "rewards" for doing all of that
8. Quoted in "U.S. Relations with Pakistan
Revived," Stratfor Commentary, September 13,
would be considerable: growing diplomatic,
2001, www.startfor.com/home/010912310.htm.
economic, and cultural ties with the United
States; integration into the global economy;
9. U.S. Department of State, "President of
and peace and prosperity. American taxpayers
Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Fight
Terrorism," November 10, 2001, www.gov/p/sa/
certainly should not "reward" a nation that
rt/index.cfm?docid=6056.
allies itself with regimes and groups that
encourage terrorists to kill Americans.
10. Michael Cabbage, "Pakistan's Leaders Risk
By permitting Islamabad to "wag"
Strife by Backing US," Orlando Sentinel, October 4,
2001. See also Pamela Constable, "Attacks on US
Washington and squeeze rewards from it,
Drive Pakistan to a Crossroads," Washington Post,
Washington has helped to prop up one of the
October 8, 2001.
19