Relief supplies are handed out at a camp for people displaced by flooding near Nowshera in northwest Pakistan.
The U.S. is providing the largest humanitarian response of any country to the devastating flooding in Pakistan, but its goodwill isn’t altogether altruistic. Part of the motivation is to clean up the American image in a country where 68 percent of the people have a negative view of the U.S. —JCL
The New York Times:
As the Obama administration continues to add to the aid package for flood-stricken Pakistan—already the largest humanitarian response from any single country—officials acknowledge that they are seeking to use the efforts to burnish the United States’ dismal image there.
Administration officials say their top priority is providing much-needed help to a pivotal regional ally in the fight against Al Qaeda. But when senior officials from the White House, State Department, Pentagon and Agency for International Development hold their daily conference calls to coordinate American assistance, they are also strategizing about how that aid could help improve long-term relations with Pakistan.
According to a survey conducted last month by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, 68 percent of Pakistanis have an unfavorable view of the United States. American officials hope that images of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters ferrying supplies and plucking people from rain-swollen rivers will at least begin to counteract the bad will generated by American drone strikes against militants in Pakistan. Many Pakistanis blame the strikes for a devastating series of insurgent attacks in Pakistan.
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NB: The US has provided the LARGEST HUMANITARIAN response of any country in the world. (But, according to truthdig, it’s just a cynical ploy.) Where are China (#2 in the world) and all the fellow Muslims from Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, etc? Oh, wait. Airports and casinos and multibillion dollar aircraft deals are more important than a bunch of filthy Pakis.
The left was gaga over Obama’s pledge to “clean up America’s” image around the world after the Bush cowboy years. Now that the US is putting its money where Obama’s mouth was, we are twitted by “JCL” for having selfish motives!
—
Pakistan is thankful of any such help that it relieve its citizens who are caught up in the Calamitous torrent flood that it has swept away all the live stock, the crops and the dwelling as well as their farm shelters from above their heads . Floods devastation is spread over hundreds and thousands of square miles of the areas in Pakistan.
But if America really wants to help Pakistan; it should ceased backing the Tehrik e Taliban (TTP) that it is still unleashing destruction, killing people and spreading anarchy in society—- and the drone attacks that it continue to kill score of the innocent daily. They are prorvring to be the worst catalyst for further radicalization and turning every second survivor into terrorist.
In the presence of all this; whatever US does to win the heart of flood striken Pakistanis; it wouldn’t work.
Pakistanis are the most resilient versatile people; they may not loured in like kids are given lolly pops.
Massive Wildfire Rages in New Mexico
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By rico, suave, August 16, 2010 at 9:15 am Link to this comment
NB: The US has provided the LARGEST HUMANITARIAN response of any country in the world. (But, according to truthdig, it’s just a cynical ploy.) Where are China (#2 in the world) and all the fellow Muslims from Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, etc? Oh, wait. Airports and casinos and multibillion dollar aircraft deals are more important than a bunch of filthy Pakis.
Trisi:
Bingo!
Report thisBy rico, suave, August 16, 2010 at 7:06 am Link to this comment
OMG!!!
The left was gaga over Obama’s pledge to “clean up America’s” image around the world after the Bush cowboy years. Now that the US is putting its money where Obama’s mouth was, we are twitted by “JCL” for having selfish motives!
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, August 15, 2010 at 2:05 pm Link to this comment
I’m happy to hear America is finally helping others in a way its citizens can be proud of.
The money we pay for armaments could truely go a long way in worldwide development and crisis planning.
Report thisBy A Khokar, August 15, 2010 at 11:07 am Link to this comment
—
Pakistan is thankful of any such help that it relieve its citizens who are caught up in the Calamitous torrent flood that it has swept away all the live stock, the crops and the dwelling as well as their farm shelters from above their heads . Floods devastation is spread over hundreds and thousands of square miles of the areas in Pakistan.
But if America really wants to help Pakistan; it should ceased backing the Tehrik e Taliban (TTP) that it is still unleashing destruction, killing people and spreading anarchy in society—- and the drone attacks that it continue to kill score of the innocent daily. They are prorvring to be the worst catalyst for further radicalization and turning every second survivor into terrorist.
In the presence of all this; whatever US does to win the heart of flood striken Pakistanis; it wouldn’t work.
Report thisPakistanis are the most resilient versatile people; they may not loured in like kids are given lolly pops.