Our Wonderful Ally Pakistan

It's well known that Pakistan is double dealing when it comes to the US and NATO. They receive aid money from US tax payers, an estimated $10 billion since 2001, yet they provide safe havens for Al-Qaeda and aid the Taliban. On the latter point, the New York Times reports how Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI, aids the Taliban, the people we're supposed to be fighting. It's shocking to read the extent to which they are doing that:

WASHINGTON — The Taliban’s widening campaign in southern Afghanistan is made possible in part by direct support from operatives in Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, despite Pakistani government promises to sever ties to militant groups fighting in Afghanistan, according to American government officials.

The support consists of money, military supplies and strategic planning guidance to Taliban commanders who are gearing up to confront the international force in Afghanistan that will soon include some 17,000 American reinforcements.

Support for the Taliban, as well as other militant groups, is coordinated by operatives inside the shadowy S Wing of Pakistan’s spy service, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, the officials said. There is even evidence that ISI operatives meet regularly with Taliban commanders to discuss whether to intensify or scale back violence before the Afghan elections.

How can they possibly win this conflict with this going on? They are still sending money and are planning on sending more. They are paying people who are fighting them. How do they think this will get better? Einstein's definition of insanity applies here: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

UPDATE: From the LA Times: U.S. plans to boost civilian aid to Pakistan

Reporting from Washington -- The Obama administration plans to dramatically increase civilian aid to Pakistan as part of its new strategy on Afghanistan and the surrounding region, hoping the overture will lead to more effective steps by the Pakistani military to shut down insurgent sanctuaries, U.S. officials said.

A threefold increase in civilian aid would come on top of more than $10 billion in mostly military assistance since 2001. In addition to the aid, the administration will seek similar contributions from other nations, the officials said, describing the conclusions of a strategy review on condition of anonymity because it has not been made public

What a joke.