A Pakistani family stood on their farm compound surrounded by flood waters, seen by a Pakistan Navy helicopter distributing emergency aid near Bachel in Sindh Province. (Kevin Frayer/Associated Press)
It's usually the other way around!
Related:
"A humanitarian disaster is unfolding, millions sleep under open skies virtually abandoned by the state and the world, the aid trickles, and the rulers and leaders show no sign of urgency or sincere concern....
--MORE--"
This newspaper gives you the urgency.... but always has to drag the war into it:
"US promises $60m more for Pakistani flood relief; Officials fear terrorists may exploit chaos" by Colum Lynch, Washington Post | August 20, 2010
UNITED NATIONS — The United States pledged an additional $60 million yesterday to the UN flood relief effort in Pakistan, bringing its total contribution to $150 million in a move designed to encourage other governments and private donors to boost their aid.
Seems like chump change when you consider the scale of this thing.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who announced the new amount in an interview with Pakistan’s Dawn TV, joined Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and other top US and foreign officials at a UN donors conference later yesterday to highlight the extraordinary nature of the floods, which have affected 20 million people.
“Pakistan is facing a slow-motion tsunami,’’ Ban told the delegates. “At least 160,000 square kilometers of land is under water, an area larger than more than half the countries in the world.’’
At an Asia Society forum on the flood just before the UN special session, Qureshi said his country had never seen anything like it.
He told the gathering of diplomats, investors, relief officials, journalists, and Pakistani Americans: “1919, I’m told, was a megaflood. This far exceeds that.’’ To make matters worse, Qureshi said, the flooding “has struck in an area where we were operating against extremists and terrorists.’’
Qureshi, who was joined by Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Rajiv Shah, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, singled out the United States for leading the international effort to respond to the calamity.
“Thank you, America,’’ Qureshi said, noting that ordinary Pakistanis recognized the US contributions. “You have shown the world that you are a caring nation.’’
Related: U. S. Delivers Massive Missile Aid to Baluchistan
That's how we tell you we love you.
Bombs away!
He also thanked George Soros, the billionaire investor and philanthropist, who announced plans this week to allocate $5 million in flood relief funds to a Pakistan democracy program he runs — more money than most countries have offered.
Appreciated; however, I'm sick of looting globalist scum being charitable.
The Asian Development Bank is also extending $2 billion in low-interest loans over the next two years to help fund a massive reconstruction effort, Holbrooke told reporters.
Banks made it through the financial crisis fine; can't they just start giving grants instead? They can take it out of the billions-in-bonuses pool!
The US pledge moved the United Nations closer to raising the nearly $460 million it is seeking to pay for relief operations over the next six months. The slowness of the global response to the appeal has prompted criticism of many of Pakistan’s closest allies, including China and oil-rich Saudi Arabia.
“I think the Chinese should step up to the plate,’’ Holbrooke told reporters. “They always say Pakistan is their closest ally.’’
Related: China to send more relief materials to flood-hit Pakistan
WTF is DICK talking about?
You really receive nothing but propaganda for news, America.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s president warned yesterday that Islamist terrorists may exploit the chaos and misery caused by the floods to gain new recruits — remarks echoed by a leading US senator who said America would stand by its vital wartime ally during the crisis.
Yeah, when "terrorists" help they are "exploiting" the situation.
Thank Allah AmeriKa and its motives are purer than the Virgin Mary.
The floods have affected 20 million people and about one-fifth of Pakistan’s territory, straining its civilian government as it also struggles against Al Qaeda and Taliban violence. Aid groups and the United Nations have complained that foreign donors have not been quick or generous enough given the scale of the disaster.
“All these catastrophes give strength to forces who do not want a state structure,’’ President Asif Ali Zardari said during a press conference with John F. Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, after the two visited some of the country’s hardest-hit areas and a relief camp.
Here is your photo op:
Senator John F. Kerry and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan spoke to flood survivors yesterday in Jampur. (B.K.Bangash/Associated Press)
I notice the two brothers(?) comforting each other by holding hands, don't you?
“There is a possibility that the negative forces would exploit the situation,’’ Zardari said.
So WHAT WAR are they going to LIE THEIR PEOPLE into?
“Like they would take the babies who have been made orphans and take them to their camps and train them as the terrorists of tomorrow.’’
Oh, HE is DISGUSTING!
What DOGMATIC DEMAGOGUE!!!
Zardari’s government has been criticized for failing to respond quickly enough, and Islamist charities — at least one of which has alleged links to terrorism — have been active in the flood-hit areas.
Yes, but WE DON'T GET a REPORT about that!!
We get ONE LINE three-quarters of the way through the article and then they move along!
There also are concerns the scale of the suffering could stoke unrest and political instability that may distract nuclear-armed Pakistan from the fight against the Taliban.
Yup, had to work that "nuclear-armed" in there!
Already, the military has had to divert thousands of soldiers and a good deal of equipment from battling the militancy to rescuing flood victims.
Yeah, what a BUMMER that the WARS are being affected and LESS PEOPLE are being MURDERED!
And I made myself clear the other day:
I have been wanting the wars to end, but NOT LIKE THIS!!!
“None of us want to see this crisis provide an opportunity or an excuse for people who want to exploit the misery of others for political or ideological purpose, and so it is important for all of us to work overtime,’’ Kerry said.
More than three weeks after the floods first began, the United States, Germany, and Saudi Arabia all announced new pledges of aid, while Japan said it would send helicopters to help distribute food, water, and medicine. The Asian Development Bank said it would redirect $2 billion of existing and planned loans for reconstruction.
Saudi Arabia said it would donate $80 million to Pakistan, the official Saudi Press Agency reported, making it one of the largest donors. The country has for years sought to project its influence in Pakistan and has funded the spread of hard-line Islamic theology here that many say gives traction to armed extremist movements.
So what has Saudi Arabia done to piss off Usrael?
Getting a lot of bad press lately.
Germany will add $32 million to $18 million previously pledged, according to the text of remarks to be delivered by Minister of State Werner Hoyer.
The United States has dispatched 19 Army helicopters to hard-hit areas. The United States’ primary concern is humanitarian, Kerry said. “Obviously there is a national security interest.’’
Yeah, there is NOTHING we do for the GOOD, MORAL, or RIGHT REASONS!
It is always what the BURDENS of EMPIRE demand!
And then Kerry choppered back to Afghanistan:
"Kerry meets Afghan leader to discuss US contractors
WASHINGTON — Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts has quietly returned to Kabul to continue talks with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, according to his spokesman, Frederick Jones.
Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, left Kabul on Wednesday to tour flood-affected areas of Pakistan, but made a second, unexpected trip back to Afghanistan, apparently to discuss Karzai’s decree that US contractors should leave the country within four months.
Related: Karzai Kicks Out U.S. Contractors
So that's why we must stay and die, senator?
“As part of his ongoing efforts to assess conditions on the ground, Senator Kerry has returned to Afghanistan to complete his meetings with Karzai and US officials and will visit with soldiers,’’ Jones said.
Kerry had been scheduled to leave the region last night.
Yeah, thanks for adding to the world's carbon footprint, you hypocritical PoS.
Last year, Kerry made a second, unexpected trip to Kabul to persuade Karzai to accept the findings of an international elections commission. After that trip, Kerry was widely credited for helping to resolve a dangerous impasse between Karzai and the international community.
Yeah, it is around-the-world trips like that causing Pakistan's flooding, haven't you heard?
Related: Pakistan Floods Wash Away War on Terror
--MORE PHOTOS--"
Please read the story as well.
Also see: Flood victims die – but US airbase protected
Related: Pakistan Bans Islamist Aid, Even Though In Some Places It Is the Only Aid
And from the, uh, ground:
"Where Are Pakistan’s Millionaire Politicians?
by Ahmed Quraishi
Aug 19th, 2010
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—This is a lesson for the whole Pakistani nation. If you are a Pakistani reading this, please tell others.
While the world’s rich dole out money to help Pakistan’s flood victims, Pakistan’s rich political elite refuses to budge. By now we should have been seeing members of this ruling elite buying tents, building shelters and providing gallons of clean drinking water to the homeless millions.
But in every flooded district of the country, you will see Pakistani civilian and military volunteers. But not the politicians.
Consider this:
*********
On the first day of a nationwide Saudi campaign to raise funds for the victims of floods in Pakistan on Monday, 17 Aug. 2010: Saudi women who thronged public aid collection camps in different Saudis cities and were photographed by the international media donating their jewelry to King Abdullah’s campaign in support of Pakistan....
Wow, that is something my MSM report failed to mention!
The conclusion is this: while the country reels under a humanitarian tragedy, it is the Pakistani middle class, the Pakistani business class, a couple of religious charities and the armed forces that have come to the rescue of their fellow countrymen during a disaster. They will always step up to help their countrymen....
Read the rest HERE
Also read: Pakistani Democracy Has Drowned In The Floods
