“The Pakistan Whisperer” (Newsweek)
“Kerry Seeks to Soothe Pakistani Anger Over Bin Laden Raid” (NYTimes)
This article from Newsweek provides good background for Senator John Kerry’s trip to Pakistan, explaining his history with the country and his rapport with its leaders.
The Times is reporting that the visit has produced results; Kerry “said Monday that Pakistan had agreed to take ‘several immediate steps’ to show its seriousness about the importance of relations with America. They included returning the tail of the helicopter that crashed on the night of the Bin Laden raid, he said.” In light of rumors that Pakistan had considered offering the modified (presumably with top-secret technology) tailpiece to China, this is good news.
According to the Times article, Pakistan’s primary concern is to ensure that the U.S. has “no designs against Pakistan’s nuclear and strategic assets.” A joint American-Pakistani statement maintained that Kerry”was prepared to personally affirm such a guarantee.”
Newsweek’s Michelle Cottle cites the senator’s lead role in the 2009 Kerry-Lugar-Berman aid package, which gives Pakistan $1.5 billion each year.
As former State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley puts it: “Kerry is probably unique in being able to go to Pakistan as a demonstrated friend and say, ‘Look, lots of people are calling for us to cut off assistance. I will not be able to defend you unless you respond in a meaningful way to this event.’”
According to Cottle, Kerry worked closely with the late Richard Holbrooke, who once used his cell phone to dial up Kerry in the middle of a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. An official tells Cottle that, after the that incident, “whenever Holbrooke and Zardari were scheduled to meet, the president’s staff would install cell-phone jammers to prevent the ambassador from repeating the stunt.”
Kerry is simultaneously aligned with the Obama administration without being of it. He is widely thought to have designs on Hillary Clinton’s job as Secretary of State when she steps down as expected in 2012. While this has reportedly caused some friction with Obama insiders, Kerry’s independence also gives him an edge in negotiations with Pakistani leaders, who were burned by the secrecy with which the bin Laden raid was carried out. To Cottle he says, “I’m not a member of the administration. I don’t work for the administration . . . . But I’m perfectly happy to work with them when the interests of our country are on the line—when there’s a policy we’re mutually in agreement on.”
. . . So Well Read. . . 