READER COMMENTS: "Abbottabad Commission Report"

Posted by Bikebrains at July 24, 2013 5:24 PM ET:

The ISI has plausible deniability. The "possibility of something more sinister" points to the ISI. "Local Pakistani support would have been essential" points to the ISI. "Questions about the support network were not answered by the ISI" further implicates the ISI. "A strange absence of curiosity by the ISI" again points to the ISI. For those of us who despise the actions of Pakistan there is a partial solution that can be implemented immediately: boycott all goods made in Pakistan. Do not buy textiles with "Made in Pakistan" on the label. Simple yet effective.

Posted by blert at July 24, 2013 6:48 PM ET:

Boycotting foreign aid schemes is the only way that Islamabad will feel pressure.

That's where the big money is.

Textile exports are trivial.

Posted by Bikebrains at July 25, 2013 3:14 AM ET:

Source: http://www.ustr.gov/countries-regions/south-central-asia/pakistan
"U.S. goods imports from Pakistan totaled $3.8 billion in 2011, a 9.2% increase ($321 million) from 2010, and up 77% from 2000.

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Miscellaneous Textile Products ($1.4 billion), Knit Apparel ($1.2 billion), Woven Apparel ($468 million), Cotton and Yarn and Fabric ($182 million), and Leather ($86 million)." "The U.S. goods trade deficit with Pakistan was $1.8 billion in 2011, a 13.6% increase ($219 million) over 2010."

I wish the Office of the United States Trade Representative would update the stats to include 2012. The $3.8 billion mentioned above for 2011 is a healthy chunk of change.

Source: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41856.pdf
"The Administration has requested nearly $1.2 billion economic and security aid to Pakistan for
FY2014. This represents a steep decline from total FY2012 assistance of about $1.9 billion
(excluding CSF). Estimated FY2013 allocations are not yet available. This report will be updated
as warranted by events."

If anyone can find more current numbers from authoritative sources then please supply them as a response to this comment. Whatever the precise numbers are, the consumer of the United States is sending a lot of money to Pakistan. This error can be corrected by a national boycott of Pakistani goods. The country of origin is on the label of all goods sold in the United States. Letting Pakistani goods gather dust on store shelves is a good beginning. Writing letters to stores that carry Pakistani goods is Step Two. Turning the boycott into national policy is Step Three. In support of Step Three please send your opinions to the following address : https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml. I now ask fellow readers to suggest Step Four.
The following article should help influence your decision: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/06/the_onions_satire_on_pakistani.php