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This goes against US President Barack Obama’s code of ethics and the revolving-door ban that the White House put out a day after he took charge. According to this, lobbyists entering the US government will not involve themselves for at least the next two years with issues that they have lobbied for during the past two years in their previous employment.
A known pro-Pakistan diplomat from the 1990s when she was Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Raphel rubbed India the wrong way when she categorised Kashmir as “disputed territory” and even cast doubts on the instrument of accession. Having held important assignments in the Clinton administration, she was brought back in August into the official fold by Richard Holbrooke, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Before this, she had been working with lobbying firm Cassidy and Associates which had a $1.2-million contract with the Pakistan government of which receipts of $350,500 have been shown in the last quarter. This has raised questions over conflict of interest norms that the Obama administration has so strictly applied, and on which the President has taken a clear public position from the start of his presidency.
In its submission under US laws to the Department of Justice, the firm lists Raphel as one of its principal lobbyists for Pakistan, listing her several visits to the State Department and US Congress in this connection. Details of legislations for which the firm lobbied for Pakistan are:
* Fiscal 2010 Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations (HR-3081)
* Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan 2009, known as the Kerry-Lugar Bill
* Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhance Act moved by Howard Berman
* The Afghanistan-Pakistan Security and Prosperity Enhancement Act, which was later known as the Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction opportunity and Zones Act
* The Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal 2010-11
* Defence Authorization Bill.
Raphel’s travel expenses have been listed against the Embassy of Pakistan until July 31 this year, which is barely a week before her appointment was made public by the State Department. Registered as a lobbyist for Cassidy in April 2007, the submission lists travel expenses by her in months of June and July as paid by the Embassy of Pakistan in the US.
As coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan, she will be involved in disbursing funds made available through the very legislations she lobbied for while at Cassidy. While the State Department is said to have taken the position that she may not be a full-time employee, the jury is still out on whether Obama’s code of ethics will apply on her or not. New Delhi, which has always had concerns with Raphel being included in Holbrooke’s team, is keenly watching the issue.
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Raphael's appointent is unethical and against the current administration's own norms and therfore should be rescinded forthwith!
This is really a concern, but I am sure Mrs Clinton will tame her down when she goes awry. This appointment appears to be centred around money business rather than ethics.
One has to do this dirty job and appointing Robin Raphael is infact right choice for she has to be extra conscious carrying her responsility.What can she do against India/Indian interests?Nothing but closing her eyes if the Aid is diverted to other channels to acquire/purchase weapons.Even without this socalled aid the US is supplying much more modern weapons and equipment which infact not atall required to fight against Talibans.This US practice is as old as Pakistan's creation.So is with Saudis who are giving them billions and are meant to strengthen Pak military forces.USA will ever remain anti-India what-so-ever.Obama wants to establish Indo-US relation to new Levels;whcih level!The lowest level based on treachery and deception.Moreover today's lobbyist is nest day's spy.Their major interests are money,fame and name.She will be sent there only after brain-washing and full training and ofcourse will be supervised by already exisiting US moles in Pakistan.
This is all Bull Shit .
US will go along with India only as far as it serves its own interests. An ally, however close he may be to you, will ulitmately sacrifice you for the sake of his self interest. We have two known adversaries in our neighbourhood and a third one, who runs with the hare and hunts with the hound. India has only one option: that is to grow powerful by ourselves.
India can count only on its own strength.That is not to say that we neglect diplomacy . On the contrary our diplomats shgould be made active and answerable. They should be given foriegn policy goals to be achieved and they should be judged on that criteria. US has its own intersts and India has its own. As in the past 60 years we must take this in our stride and march forward.We have internal and external challeges that no other coutry in the world has.Despite all these problems we have been moving forward and we will be marching forward.The caravan goes on ......
When you deal with your nation - this remains no more just a JOB. This demands passion for the work. Somehow, for we Indian, it is only money money and money. This results in people taking bribe, going to odd jobs which does not suit their personality. and this is one of the main reason of failures with us. Our diplomats must not be judged on their performance only...They should live and die for this country and then only their worth is proved. This ofcourse stands for each of us also.
No amount of Lobbying is going to save Pakistan. That country is going to implode very soon. Let them pour in the US money into defense. All this will be useless in the long run as there will no country to defend in the first place. The funny part is, Ms Robin Raphel who is working so hard lobbying for Pak, cannot even walk alone in the streets of Lahore or Islamabad. India is a big country and we should not be affected by these little things.
Robin Raphael is not bothered about her safety while walking through the squadrangles of lahore or pindi. The magnitude of commission from pakis that is going to pour into her wallet is what makes her ecstatic.
WHY BLAME RAJ THAKREY ONLY . PEOPLE OF INDIA ELECTED FOREIGNER TO RULE OVER ONE BILLION BROWN PEOPLE . THE INDIAN PUBLIC DESERVES WHAT THEY HAVE ASK FOR . AMERICAN KHOWS , EVERY THING IS BOUGHT AT PRICE IN INDIA SO WHY WORRY .
What a joke a person who would like to call himself a NRI is talking about foreigner ruling the country. Joke of the century. This must be a NRB (Ba*@&%#)
If India is not respected, it is because of Sonia Gandhi being at the helm.
The new K-L Bill places heavy monitoring activity in utilising the aid, thus I think she fits the bill as coordinator...because she has years of knowledge championing the Pak's case and I am sure she knows Pak deep inside-out.
With such actions US is losing trust of many friendly nations including Pakistan.As a major Power if they are sensitive they can make world a beautiful and peaceful place. Who knows if they believe peace is notin US interest.
So why this is worrying now? US is arm twisting India, which is a poor country in all respect - be it self respect, self dependency, guts, courage. You count all good values for a nation, we are devoid of all. But yes, when it is regional politics, we are champion with gold medalist Raj Thakrey, against whom our PM have not said any advice of caution. So, when we are not strong internally, any external factor can play with us. US is doing good for it's sake...Pakistan is also doing good for it's sake so is China doing. Only we are appearing a fool at all front.