Senate committee cuts more aid to Pakistan

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Back now to the breaking news on our top story this afternoon roughly an hour ago the senate Appropriations Committee.

Voted to cut 33 million dollars in aid to Pakistan.

After a Pakistani judge handed down a 33 year sentence.

For the man the Pakistan any man who helped us find Osama bin -- He's a Pakistani Doctor Who faked a vaccination campaign.

In order to get DNA from a suspicious character who turned out to be the world's most wanted terrorists.

The Pakistani court charged him with treason.

For helping America and slammed him with what is effectively a life sentence.

Mean to questions about what the United States has done.

Could do or could have done to keep him out of harm's way.

Joining -- south ambassador John Bolton former US ambassador to United Nations and Fox News contributor.

And Brian -- to list a senior fellow with American progress gentlemen thank you both so much for being here.

I mean I think most Americans are gonna have a real visceral reaction to seeing this guy treated as a terrorist as as a as a traitor.

By Pakistan.

For helping us for helping us find.

Bin Laden and the question ambassador to you is.

What if anything should we have done to protect him.

Well be even more than that you know congressman Peter King has been charging that that they doctor's identity has effectively been leaked by the Obama administration and he's asked for investigation of it it's unfortunately.

It has the ring of truth to it given the administration's willingness to disclose.

I think excessively.

But I think this is something the United States has got to be absolutely clear with the government of Pakistan here this is completely unacceptable.

Not only because of the injustice done to this particular physician.

But because of the risk it poses for the United States worldwide if we can't protect people who help us.

In clandestine operations or otherwise we're not gonna find people who -- be willing to help us.

I wanna put up at the White House says it was Pakistan at first leaked his identity we did however leader confirm it once he was charged in Pakistan.

Publicly we did but Brian let me ask you -- to speak to investor -- last point there how we need to get people to help us.

Find other terrorists in other countries if we allow this sentenced to stand in Pakistan against this -- We're not allowing -- sentenced to stand in right now we've got a very aggressive diplomatic approach we do don't we got what messed up then I'm getting to the Bible passages and to give -- -- -- and -- -- -- I I and I -- -- -- -- -- just wanted to -- our -- -- that the State Department has said.

We see no basis of these charges.

Quote we will continue to make representations.

Yet you're selectively quoting when you just reported that the senate is cutting aid to pockets that so let me finish my statement.

We have a very aggressive diplomatic.

-- right now to deal with this guy he's a hero RIA and the fact that he was tried by Pakistan.

Is a travesty -- that continues to isolate itself but here's the fact of the matter.

We got bin Laden every day our our military and our intelligence are sacrificing and risking their lives.

To go after these militants and I think right now what we we're seeing right now in this segment there.

Is -- criticizing diplomacy in action which is unfortunate we saw -- in the case of the Chinese dissident Chen.

And a lot of amp up political rhetoric about this is a day of shame.

And things like this and I gotta say we have to call a timeout on the politicizing of national security.

Which is what we're seeing right now on.

I I I we I we have government if I think if you're talking -- and I -- gonna let you let me that so far so far the reason we're criticizing diplomacy in action -- so far the diplomacy sticks.

Its -- and that unit sales later he was convicted the other -- Ambassador.

But I don't think what this gentleman has said is worthy of response frankly I think the fact is.

That the administration has allowed this to happen and it's going to be held accountable for.

That the example that it sets to people all around the world people who provide us information people who provide us.

Tangible assistance.

Are now extremely worried about our ability to protect them and and I think part of this does go to the a pattern of talking more than we should about Covert operations.

And and that is something that really -- dangers future Covert operations the operators themselves would tell you this the the clandestine service at the CIA these special operations forces of our military.

Each time we reveal their capabilities -- methods their sources of information.

It allows our adversaries to plan defensively against what we might be able to do and it thereby undermines our security.

What -- I agree I agree or -- Right factually -- -- actually correct that -- actually incur rap I'm no evidence that they all I go to LA for the fun here let let me get and let me get an and then onto the floor okay it's better but look at -- -- set up the question.

First what happened was this guy got charged and we knew about that our State Department came out objected to -- Hillary Clinton objected to it but the problem is everybody knew it was going to be in conclusion because.

Think I was not -- a chance to defend himself we -- not looking at the US justice system over there the sky was not allowed even defend himself.

Not surprisingly he was convicted -- cents at 33 years.

Now the question is even though where quietly working behind the scenes to shorten his sentence or have -- dismissed Brian how do we.

Why should we believe will be any more successful in doing that.

-- we weren't preventing the charges from being brought the first place and the conviction from happening.

Look first of all we got it a deal with the facts and the facts -- matters every day their intelligence and military operations in fact.

Today there was a drone strike in Pakistan in the very territory.

That last decade was being -- in deals by the Pakistani government so we've had a much more aggressive approach.

And that relies on partners like this doctor and today people are working very hard.

To secure his release both publicly and privately and I think it's a shame that we're actually trying to divide our country while senior US officials are working this issue very aggressively.

And again politicizing these sorts of questions.

Really old and up we -- in the United States especially when we have baseless charges that evidence was leaked and these narratives that are out here right now.

I get allegations from congressman king.

And other things but no real facts there and what I get that at the ambassador Bolton in Iowa today and I get that it's 2012 and -- election season but this is national security about keeping Americans safe and we got to keep that in mind.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I want to ask you ambassador Bolton about what this means for our relationship -- their so called ally Pakistan -- event top.

Republican congressman chairman of the format affairs subcommittee saying quote this is decisive proof that Pakistan sees itself.

As being at war with us.

Well that that is the conclusion to draw from the charges under which this doctor was tried.

Unfortunately while it's it certainly aggravating to say the least and dangerous for American interest I don't think at this point.

Having a direct confrontation in public is necessarily the way to get this guy out of trouble and I think ultimately out of -- -- you know the the real risk here is that -- gets taken over by.

A radicals who get control of its arsenal of nuclear weapons and I've said this before and I'll say it again we have got to grit our teeth.

And put pressure and in this case merciless pressure on the Pakistani government it may well be politically that the kind of appropriations.

That helps our diplomacy in which case that that's fine.

But -- I -- I wouldn't recommend it as a flat out strategy without without further consideration.

All right guys thank you both so much we appreciate it thank you Paramount debate.

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Senate committee cuts more aid to Pakistan

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