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Please join us in educating Senator Kerry about Pakistan: (This is meant not to suggest to anyone who to support and whom not to, but to use the vital time to educate one of the contenders regarding some public positions he has taken)
[Please sign an important petition in the end]
BACKGROUND:
Senator Kerry has in the past and even in the recent past used terminology, words that have not been very supportive of Pakistan. Some of the links and details below [End of this email] do suggest that his inclinations in South Asia may not be well balanced. As the November elections come closer and the opponents discuss their views in heated debates, it is likely that the topic and position on support for Pakistan will become an important topic. The time right now is very critical to use the individual and collective voices of Pakistani American community to educate Senator Kerry, his campaign personnel and the key members of the Democratic National Committee.
ACTION REQUEST:
Please Send Letters to the Following Group: Please see talking points below:
info@johnkerry.com
http://kerry.senate.gov/low/contact_email.html
http://www.democrats.org/contact/
dunnj@dnc.org
jeffersonk@dnc.org
TALKING POINTS:
Pakistani American community is a single largest,
and the most politically active group of the 7 Million American Muslim
community.
The Pakistani American community has been one of the largest groups
who have supported Senator Kerry campaign.
According to the Poll by the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee
July 18th, 2003, 50% of the responders of 900 Pakistani American questioned
supported Senator Kerry.
The Pakistani American Community is extremely appreciative of the position
that Senator Kerry has taken with respect to planning effective actions
to protect the civil rights and liberties of all Americans.
Senator Kerry’s gracious tilt towards India and expressing a veiled
threat of imposing sanctions against Pakistan are both shocking and
dismaying to all Pakistani-Americans, many of whom have voted for him
in the Primaries and hoped for his victory in November.
His position and statements as a Senator had been concerning with respect
to Pakistan. Regrettably, it seems that he has not changed his harsh
views against Pakistan despite Pakistan’s unfailing assistance
to the USA and its willingness to fight the menace of Al-Qaeda.
We hope that Senator Kerry and his team analysts will review his perspective
of Pakistan and take immediate and active steps to restore our confidence
and faith in him regarding a fair and balanced policy in the region.
As a leader with plans and aspirations to become the President of the
world’s most important Country his encouragement in bringing both
India and Pakistan together to amicably resolve the long out-standing
Kashmir issue would be very reassuring.
United States continued support of Pakistan with respect to health,
education, economy and buildup of infrastructure remain important for
the region of South Asia and the United States economic and geo-political
interests in the entire region.
It is extremely important that the Senator Kerry, His Campaign and the
Democratic National Committee set the record state with respect to the
position regarding Pakistan.
A positive response will be giant step forward to help achieve the support
of a large organized, active and effective community.
EXAMPLES OF SENATOR KERRY’S VIEWS AND POSITIONS REGARDING PAKISTAN:
1) http://www.asianam.org/kerry_on_asian-american_issues.htm
Chopra was similarly impressed. "We asked him a lot of questions about Kashmir and Pakistan, and he reiterated that he will be supporting India's cause in the Senate," he remarked to India-West. "He was very knowledgeable and detail oriented."
2) http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2003/iraq-030123-kerry01.htm
Senator John Kerry Remarks
Georgetown University -For January 23, 2003
we need to pressure Pakistan to get control of its territories along the Afghanistan border, which have become a haven for terrorists.
3) Democratic front-runner Senator John Kerry sent 28 letters on behalf of an India-born defense contractor who pleaded guilty last week to illegally funneling campaign contributions to him, the Los Angeles Times has reported.
The development is seen as a blow to Sen. Kerry who has promoted himself as a candidate who has never been beholden to campaign contributors and special interests. During his current campaign speeches and media interviews, Kerry has consistently been critical of Pakistan while leaning toward India.
The LA Times report said between 1996 and 1999, Kerry participated in a letter-writing campaign to free up federal funds for a guided missile system that San Diego defence contractor Parthasarathi “Bob” Majumder was trying to build for US warplanes
4) http://technologyreports.net/primarybuzz/?articleID=2362
CONAN: Senator Kerry, Pakistani officials are accused of trading nuclear weapons technology to other countries, including Iran, North Korea and, as we heard today, possibly to Libya as well. Pakistan is also an essential American ally in the war on terrorism, and you look at the map, it's crucial to any continuing operations in Afghanistan.
How do you balance those two issues?
KERRY: It's complicated, but you have to balance them and it's even more complicated than that. There have been two attempts on the life of President Musharraf. The specter of an Islamic radical state with nuclear weapons is unacceptable for the world.
KERRY: And that is what is at risk in Pakistan today.
Pakistan has, frankly, misled the United States and the world with respect to its proliferation responsibilities for years. I remember meeting in Washington with President Zia, and he lied to my face about what they were doing with respect to nuclear weapons. And that's when we put sanctions in place on Pakistan as a consequence.
I believe that you have to walk a very fine line, but I am convinced we can be tougher with Pakistan. There are steps that we could take now to deal with the northwest component where Osama bin Laden is. We know he's up there. We have not pushed hard enough.
And I think there are combinations of initiatives we could take with India that would also help us resolve the tensions in that area.
Please sign this Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/USally/petition.html
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© 2005 PAKPAC |