Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Suzia van Swol-University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service
Since Pakistan harbors international terrorists and controls a nuclear arsenal, the country poses the greatest threat to the Middle East, according to two Democrat U.S. Senators recently returned from the region.

During the April Congressional break, Sen. Jack Reed (RI) traveled with Sen. Ted Kaufman (DE) to Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The pair were in the Middle East from April 13th through April 20th to meet with leaders and officials.

In every country visited, the pair found "deficiencies in the local police,” Reed said, which inhibits Middle Eastern governments as well as the U.S. governments’ ability to truly assist the individuals and the countries.

Reed said that General David Petraeus, Commander U.S. Central Command, who was appointed by George W. Bush, faces very difficult decisions in terms of allocating resources.

“We are going to look very hard at the budget and the policy defense department to ensure that we have enough of these assets which are the critical enablers between both countries,” said Reed.

Senator Kaufman said that we (U.S.A) are at a pivot point in the region with the withdrawal in Iraq, increased U.S. military forces in Afghanistan and growing instability in Pakistan. “This is not just a military problem,” said Kaufman, suggesting that local police and political figures in the Middle East need to play a role alongside military efforts.