House Proceeding on Sep 30th, 2009 :: 4:00:50 to 4:04:45
Total video length: 4 hours 40 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Views:65 Duration: 0:03:55 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

4:00:47 to 4:01:09( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: i thank mr. berman for his flexibility. with that i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker prtempore: the gentlewoman from florida reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from california. mr. berman: i'm very pleased to yield to one of the key partners in working through this legislation, the chairman of the middle east and south asia subcommittee, the gentleman from new york, the vice chair of the

4:00:50 to 4:04:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gary L. Ackerman

4:01:10 to 4:01:31( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: committee, mr. ackerman. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized for four minutes. mr. ackerman: thank you. mr. speaker, i rise to speak on the resolution before the house. i want to commend the chairman for his strong efforts particularly on the bill as we opted it in the house in july. the bill before us today had to satisfy other parties and is in

4:01:32 to 4:01:53( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: my view a lesser product for it. the fundamental question this legislation attempts to answer is -- how can we best ensure the full cooperation of the government of the people of pakistan in our struggle against al qaeda, the taliban, and other sources of violence, terror, and regional instability? in the text by chairman berman the answer to this question was

4:01:54 to 4:02:14( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: to propose a long-term partnership, one in which both sides had both interest and responsibilities, a partnership of equals who were expected to constantly and appropriately judge whether or not the relationpship was succeeding. the compromise bill before us today, however, is not a blueprint for a partnership. it is a recipe for

4:02:15 to 4:02:36( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: disappointment followed by disillusionment. pakistan is too big and too complex to be a proper subject for the senate's preferred pygmalion like approach. even if pakistan sought such a relationpship, which they very definitely do not, pakistan is simply beyond our shaping. pakistan's interest and our own

4:02:37 to 4:02:59( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: are not very closely aligned. see india as a major ally. they see india as as inherently dangerous. we see the afghan taliban as wicked, oppressive, and violent as a group intent on returning afghanistan to primitive theocratic darkness. they see it as a useful insurance polcy.

4:03:00 to 4:03:21( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: we see pakistan's ongoing relationship with radical islamic terrorist groups as illegitimate. they see these groups as both fundamentally just and as essential leverage. they see it as an unwarranted foreign position and potentially a violation of their rights and the list of contradictions could go on across a range of subjects

4:03:43 to 4:04:05( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: programs with pakistan does not inspire confidence in either the rectitude of our partners or own ability to spend the taxpayers' money effectively. the response to such concerns is predictable. shall we do nothing? no, of course not. pakistan is a country we can ignore only at our own peril. only a fool could pretend that

4:04:06 to 4:04:26( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: what happens there is not and will not become our concern. this bad neighborhood will definitely come to visit us if we choose not to visit it. but our success will depend chiefly on reforms taken in pakistan by pakistanis. i see little in the bill to provide any assurance that such changes are on the way.

4:04:27 to 4:04:45( Edit History Discussion )

Gary L. Ackerman: i fear again we are choosing to be pakistan's patrons rather than its partners. in the end, pakistan will absorb what we offer and remain the same pakistan. and worst of all they will cla once again that we have failed them. but we have no choice but to pass this bill.