The Osama bin Laden raid by the Navy SEALs in Pakistan is considered to be one of the primary reasons the United States stopped offering aid to Pakistan. But now the Obama administration is considering bringing it back.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr , President Obama allegedly played cards during the Osama bin Laden raid .
Besides the Osama bin Laden raid, deadly airstrikes against Pakistani soldiers played another part in this decision. Interestingly enough, Hillary Clinton is now saying the Osama bin Laden raid was opposed by Joe Biden while the potential 2016 presidential contender says she was in full support of the plan.
But this plan resulted in relations between the two nations essentially disintegrating since the Navy SEALs were sent in without Pakistan’s approval or foreknowledge. People in the Pentagon claimed some members of Pakistan’s government must have known where Osama bin Laden was hiding , with even President Obama openly saying Osama bin Laden would have escaped if Pakistan’s government had been told in advance about the raid. After all, Osama bin Laden’s hideout was often described as being just around the corner from Pakistan’s equivalent of West Point. But Pakistan officially denies everything.
Despite this history, Pakistan’s new prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, is traveling to Washington D.C. to meet with President Obama and it seems the Osama bin Laden raid will be put behind us. The United States will release more than $1.6 billion in military and economic aid to Pakistan as part of this “strategic dialogue.”
The Obama administration believes the Pakistan aid is critical as US military troops are pulled out of Afghanistan along the Pakistani border. They want to ensure the government of Pakistan is stable and more likely to root out any terrorists still lurking within their borders.
Despite any lingering doubts over the Osama bin Laden raid, Congress has already cleared the money for the Pakistan aid and the money should be sent out by the beginning of 2014. The billions in aid will go toward providing “better communications, night vision capabilities, maritime security and precision striking with F16 fighter jets.” While much of the aid is going to Pakistan’s military, a larger percentage will go toward setting up a dam project.
Do you think Pakistan should receive billions in US aid despite Pentagon officials and President Obama previously claiming the Pakistani government and military knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding ?