[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                PAKISTAN

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, earlier this week, I gave a talk based on my 
service in Afghanistan as a reservist, about the growing threat of a 
new group to our forces in Afghanistan, ISAF, and the Afghan 
Government. It is not al-Qaida, which is armed and dangerous, but a 
shadow of its former shadow. It is not the Taliban, which is still 
extremely armed and dangerous. It is a new group called the Haqqani 
Network.
  Recently, there was a high-profile attack on the Afghan Government 
and ISAF headquarters in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The U.S. 
Ambassador 2 days ago then announced this was the work of the Haqqani 
Network. That is a very important factoid. Then yesterday, the 
Secretary of Defense also highlighted the Haqqani and pointed a direct 
finger at the Government of Pakistan and its intelligence service, the 
ISI.
  It is all well known that while there are terrorists operating 
loosely in Pakistan who attack Afghans and Americans, it is the Haqqani 
Network that enjoys the official support and backing of the 
intelligence service of Pakistan.
  Given this new information, and especially given the statement by the 
U.S. Ambassador in Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, and now our Secretary of 
Defense, Leon Panetta, the Senate should engage in an agonizing 
reappraisal of military assistance to Pakistan. We should base our 
reappraisal on the statements of our own Ambassador in Kabul and the 
Secretary of Defense himself.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri is recognized.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I want to talk about the disaster funding 
debate that is going on this week.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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