Wall Street Journal

Congressional critics of aid will seize on Pakistan's bloody conflicts as "proof" that the program i9 wasteful, ineffective. The country, after receiving S4 billion in U.S. help, is sacrificing internal progress in its civil war. The weapons used are mostly American. U.S. agreements permit the arms to be used for internal security-a point that aid's foes will stress.

The Pakistani economy is near chaos. Reports say 5~200 million in outside aid 18 held up by the current crisis. Officials seek speedier U.S. assistance, plus emergency help from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund. But donors are loath to bankroll a government that guns down its own citizens, bars international relief agencies.

Any remaining cash Pakistan has may go for arms, not economic projects. That would make outsiders even more reluctant to rush to the rescue.