Say Anything Blog

WASHINGTON (AP) — Terrorists are still operating freely in Pakistan along the country’s Afghanistan border, despite the U.S. giving Pakistan more than $10.5 billion in military and economic aid, according to a government watchdog agency.

The Government Accountability Office says in a report released Thursday that the U.S. lacks a comprehensive plan to deal with the terrorist threat.

Democrats called the report appalling because of congressional mandates demanding the nation do more to coordinate efforts by federal agencies.

“For anyone wondering how we’re doing in the fight to get the terrorists who killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11, this report pretty much says it all,” said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.

Some federal agencies, including the Defense Department, agreed with the findings. But the State Department disagreed, saying that a comprehensive strategy does exist and is being implemented.

Some federal agencies, including the Defense Department, agreed with the findings. But the State Department disagreed, saying that a comprehensive strategy does exist and is being implemented.

GAO also found that while individual federal agencies, including the Defense and State departments, have efforts underway to address the problem, they do not have a single coordinated strategy “that includes all elements of national power — diplomatic, military, intelligence, development assistance, economic, and law enforcement support.”

In 2006, the Bush administration began developing plans to ramp up anti-terrorism efforts in the region using such tools as development and public diplomacy. According to GAO, the plans devised by the Defense and State departments and USAID still lack final approval, including from the Pakistan government, as well as money.