Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Picking Up the Pakistan Floods

I would shed tears at the Globe's coverage, but I don't want to add to the water level.

Related:
Picking Through Pakistan

The first stop is the SECOND SECTION of my paper, page B3:

"Lexington man organizes aid effort for flooded Pakistan; Raises donations for three charities" by Matt Byrne, Globe Correspondent | September 20, 2010

Tahir Chaudhry, 58, of Lexington, has orchestrated a local aid effort among Pakistanis and Pakistani-Americans living in Greater Boston that has so far raised more than $60,000 in cash, and donated goods worth more than half that amount, Chaudhry said.

I wonder if it matches the campaign contribution.

That's all that was donated and the Globe is trumpeting it?

Sigh. I'm getting that feeling....

The latest efforts by the recently formed Pak Flood Relief Group drew more than 150 people to John Hancock Hall in the Back Bay yesterday for a fund-raiser to benefit three charities in Pakistan. The event drew scores of people from the Muslim and Pakistani communities and was headlined by US Representative Michael E. Capuano of Somerville, who gave the keynote address urging people to give.

“When the floods happened in Pakistan, the world wasn’t paying much attention to it,’’ said Chaudhry in a phone interview before the event.

Still isn't, sob.

“The US population either doesn’t care or doesn’t know what is going on in Pakistan, yet it is a national and international disaster now, as we all know.’’

I think it is BOTH!!

:-(

Since waters rose in July during monsoon season there, torrential flooding has killed almost 2,000 and has displaced millions of Pakistanis — flooding homes, washing away crops, and, in some regions, destroying infrastructure.

As of Friday, the United Nations counted more than 1,700 dead, 20 million affected, and 1.9 million homes destroyed in the catastrophe, with millions of hectares of crops lost....

It's the worst flood in my lifetime.

--more--"

Which makes the agenda-pushing coverage almost mind-blowing.

Instead I have received these items in my morning Globe
:

"Politician’s slaying sparks riots in Pakistan" by Associated Press | September 18, 2010

KARACHI — Gangs torched vehicles and a shop in Pakistan’s largest city yesterday after a senior politician from the local ruling party was stabbed to death in London.

Gas stations, schools, and markets in Karachi were closed and no public transport was running as news of the stabbing of Imran Farooq spread. The city has a history of political violence, and revenge attacks and acts of arson often follow killings.

Farooq was a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, one of Pakistan’s major parties and the largest in the coalition governing Karachi. The party is also an important member of the federal government in Islamabad.

The slaying could have implications for national political stability, especially if party officials accuse their rivals of being involved.

Yesterday, a party official said colleagues thought Farooq, 50, was killed in response to controversial statements made by the leader of the party, who lives in self-imposed exile in London.

Working for MI-6 is he?

London’s Metropolitan Police said no arrests had been made and did not speculate on the motive.

Hmmmmmm.

Farooq’s body was found in north London on Thursday with multiple stab wounds and head wounds.

The area’s lawmaker at Britain’s House of Commons, Matthew Offord, said police were meeting late yesterday to discuss developments in the case, but said he believed that the killing was likely to have been politically motivated.

I'm surprised they are not blaming Taliban.

--more--"

"Businessman arrested on charges he funded would-be Times Square bomber" by Associated Press | September 16, 2010

NEW YORK — A businessman was arrested yesterday on charges that he unwittingly funded a Connecticut man’s attempt to bomb Times Square on May 1 by providing unlicensed banking services, an arrest that continues an effort by federal authorities to reduce the illegal flow of money that can finance terrorism.

Related: FBI Lied to Spy

Yeah, I'm sick of the BS.


Mohammad Younis, 44, was accused in an indictment in US District Court in Manhattan of engaging in hawala activities, an informal banking system that relies on wire transfers, couriers, and overnight mail.

He was arrested at his Long Island home.

A bail package agreed to by lawyers on both sides called for Younis to be released on $100,000 bail after his brief afternoon court appearance.

His lawyer, Phil Solages, said outside court, after Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck set bail, that his client “is not a terrorist.’’

“Mr. Younis is a hard working family man,’’ Solages said....

--more--"

Also see
: All-American Husband Returns Home