Allen West Quotes
We do not need Pakistan to win our war in Afghanistan, but as long as we say that we do, the Pakistanis will play us like a bad fiddle.
Al Qada and Taliban insurgents fighting in Afghanistan had a sanctuary for training and resupply in the rugged mountains of Pakistan near the Afghan border. Many American military and policy makers believed that we did need Pakistan to close down the sanctuaries and lines of supply if the war was to end. However, the Pakistanis, as Mr. West stated, extracted much from the United States while at the same time, not only refusing to try to control their frontier, but several elements of the Pakistani government were actually assisting the Taliban and Al Qada while taking U. S. Military Aid to suppress them.
Allen West, U. S. Congressman (Republican, FL), Answer to a question, Speech, The American Heritage Foundation, May 11, 2011
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
At the time Pakistan was almost a failed state which had nuclear weapons. They took large amounts of American aid (military and civilian) and claimed that they were an ally in the War on Terror. On some occasions they deployed their troops against fundamentalist terrorists. On others they shielded terrorists and provided them with sanctuary from attack, intelligence and allowed terrorist leaders to not only live in Pakistan but operate their organizations from Pakistan. They supported radical Madrassas (religious schools) that taught hate and terrorism, and armed terrorists in the hopes that they could be used against their enemy India while the terrorists themselves killed more Pakistanis by far than the Indians ever did. The civilian government was subservient to the military which itself was subservient to the Intelligence Arm.
The 21st century perception of Pakistani leaders was not new. The same delusional view of the nation’s importance was held by the founder of Pakistan from the start of nation. The perception of American leaders has been on both sides of this question at different times. The reality is that Pakistan and the United States have both profited from the relationship, but there is constant reevaluation in both nations as to whether the price that is paid for the relationship is worth the cost.
With promises the success lies in following through and keeping the promise which is usually very costly. A threat that fails meanwhile can be the most expensive thing. We make a threat to deter a foreign power from something. Failure occurs when they are not intimidated and go ahead anyway. Then if we follow through on the threat, that is very costly—a war, a trade embargo, or whatever. Not following through on the threat is the costliest of all as we lose our credibility, trust and honor.
This quotation illustrates the derogatory and disrespectful attitude that many high level American officials then had towards Arab leaders. No one objected to or reprimanded Symmes for his use of the word “mongrels”. And he was the State Departments leading expert on the Middle East and Arab Cultures. In the photo, Symmes is the gentlemen on the right.
Most experts believe that this objective was sustained all through the Afghanistan War in the early 21st century.
He was discussing the conflict in the Ukraine between keeping their historical economic relationships with Russia and being more involved with Europe and the West. He observed that the Ukraine has been for centuries not only and integral part of Russia but played a huge role in the Russian Revolution of 1917. Kissinger urged Ukraine independence and relations with both Russia and Europe and not making the Russians feel that they have little or no influence over what was not very long ago a critical part of their country.
Pakistan while feigning alliance during the Afghanistan War was actually supporting terrorist groups and giving safe haven to the Taliban. America poured billions into Pakistan much of which was siphoned off by corruption and much of the money actually funded the Pakistani Intelligence Service which was supporting terrorist groups who in turn were attacking Americans in Afghanistan. Pakistan was paranoid about India and used terrorist groups to harass and attack that country. America had been a little reluctant to form a strong alliance with India as during the cold war they were neutral and did not support us. But it was a real democracy, as opposed to Pakistan, and not duplicitous like Pakistan had been.
Allen Bernard West is an American politician, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. A member of the Republican Party, West represented Florida's 22nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and has served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas since 2020.
