Pakistani Ambassador Unknowingly Hosted Neocon Fundraiser

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Source: IPS

U.S.
Pakistani Ambassador Unknowingly Hosted Neocon Fundraiser
By Ali Gharib

WASHINGTON, Dec 15, 2010 (IPS) - Amid putting on a two-and-a-half day conference focused on escalating measures against Iran, a neoconservative think-tank held a fundraiser at the residence of Pakistan's ambassador to the U.S., according to an IPS investigation.

The embassy said the think tank, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), failed to notify the Pakistani embassy that the dinner at the home of Ambassador Husain Haqqani was a fundraiser, or that it was connected to the conference about "Countering the Iranian Threat".

The embassy was unaware even that the conference was occurring, let alone that it featured FDD scholars and fellows who advocate for "ratcheting up" sanctions and pressure, U.S. support for regime change, and even Israeli or U.S. military strikes against Pakistan's ally Iran.

"Pakistan and Iran are brotherly countries and neighbouring countries, brotherly Muslim countries," Imran Gardezi, a spokesperson for the Pakistani embassy, told IPS. "Anything against Iran is unthinkable for us."

Read more: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=53877