WASHINGTON — When Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., visited Pakistan earlier this month, he invited Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to next February’s National Prayer Breakfast.

Rep. Wamp said he had been a good friend of the late Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former prime minister and a frequent attendee of the National Prayer Breakfast before she was assassinated last December.

Ms. Bhutto’s husband is chairman of Prime Minister Gilani’s Pakistani Peoples Party.

“When I told Gilani in our meeting of our relationship with Benazir Bhutto through the breakfast, I told him we would love to have him attend, and immediately, he said he’d accept my invitation,” Rep. Wamp said. “At 168 million people, Pakistan is the linchpin in the Middle East, and it’s so important that we maintain good relations.”

DAVIS CRITICIZES CHINA TRADE PRACTICES

Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., on Wednesday testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission, saying Chinese offthe-road tires have been unfairly “dumped” in the U.S. market.

He said from 2004 to 2007, data collected by the commission showed China was unfairly subsidizing Chinese off-the-road tire producers, undermining the U.S. tire industry.

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire is a major employer in Rep. Davis’ district, with 1,027 workers in Morrison, Tenn.

“The period you investigated should have been banner years for this industry, given the high levels of demand for agricultural, mining and construction equipment over the period,” Rep. Davis testified. “And yet, the benefits of higher demand levels never materialized for American (offthe-road) tire producers.”

He called the Chinese subsidies “a malicious attack on the U.S. tire industry ... to the detriment of the American economy and worker.”

ISAKSON URGES

MUGABE SANCTIONS

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relation Committee’s Subcommittee on African Affairs, has introduced a resolution condemning Zimbabwe’s recent election, which was marred by charges of irregularities and human rights abuses.

The resolution strongly criticizes President Robert Mugabe and his oppressive ruling ZANUPF party for continued violence and urges members of the United Nations Security Council to impose an international arms embargo and tighten sanctions against top Zimbabwean officials.

“It is imperative that we respond to the terrible abuses of human and political rights in Zimbabwe and encourage the international community to work toward establishing stability and restoring democracy,” Sen. Isakson said.

CORKER BACKS PETRAEUS CONFIRMATION

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week praised Gen. David Petraeus as he voted to confirm him as commander of U.S. Central Command.

He also voted to confirm Gen. Raymond Odierno to succeed Gen. Petraus as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

“I’ve had the great honor of spending time with Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Odierno on the ground in Iraq,” Sen. Corker said. “As a team, they have performed their mission in Iraq with honor and distinction and deserve our thanks for turning an intolerable security situation into an opportunity for the Iraqis to secure and sustain their country.”

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