The Administration again stepped on Congressional toes when it opted not to let lawmakers know early about a planned sale of 36 F-16s to Pakistan. The Administration must give Congress 30 days in which to review the sale, but it is customary to add on another 20 days of pre-formal notification. According to the Congressional newspaper, The Hill, the Pakistan deal frustrates lawmakers on two levels: the abbreviated process and the potential for Pakistan to leak US technology to China. Reuters news service obtained a copy of a letter in which US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has assured lawmakers that Pakistan will sign up to necessary security commitments. That’s one down.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3