Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Senators Threatens To Hold Back Afghan Aid Over Customs Fines On US Military Cargo Being Shipped Out

U.S. soldiers load a wounded Afghan Border policeman into a UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter on Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, July 13, 2013, after several policemen were wounded while conducting security operations near the base. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Hamann

Senators Threaten To Hold Back Afghan Aid Over Customs Fines -- Washington Post

Two senators who wield considerable influence over U.S. foreign aid threatened Tuesday to withhold funding for Afghanistan if the government in Kabul doesn’t cease attempting to collect customs fines for U.S. military cargo being shipped out of the country as part of the troop drawdown.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of a subcommittee that oversees foreign aid programs, called the Afghan government’s request that the U.S. military pay $70 million in customs fines ludicrous “after all we’ve given them.”

“I’ve seen some stupid things from that government,” he said during a hearing convened to unveil next year’s budget for the State Department and foreign operations. “I’ve seen some things that make you wonder what universe they live in — but this went beyond the pale.”

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My Comment:
I am at a complete lost for words. For the first time ever .... I am in agreement with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.).

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