A FIFTH OF PAKISTAN IS UNDER-WATER.

[pnwmom]

There are no excuses -- we should be doing far more to help, and so should the rest of the world.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100816/wl_yblog_upshot/one-fifth-of-pakistan-under-water-as-flooding-disaster-continues

One-fifth of Pakistan is still under water after three weeks of devastating flooding, and as many as 6 million affected people have not yet received any relief, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority told CNN.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said Sunday from Pakistan that the flood disaster is the worst he's ever seen, characterizing the destruction as more dire than that caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Pakistani earthquake. Ban urged the international community to send more relief funds to the area; the country now has just $93 million of the estimated $460 million needed to provide flood relief.
About one in 10 Pakistanis — 20 million people altogether — have been affected by the flooding, according to estimates from the Pakistani government. About 1,500 people are feared dead, and at least 2 million are homeless, according to U.N. estimates. The country's most populous province, Punjab, was also one of the worst-hit areas. Relief agencies and the government are still tallying damage to millions of acres of farms.
Now, experts worry about disease spreading. Up to 3.5 million children are at risk for dysentery and other diseases caused by drinking dirty water, warned the United Nations. The U.N. is also worried that a cholera epidemic could spread, as a few cases have already been detected and many villages have no health care.

[OhioChick]

1. Agreed.

I don't understand why this is being under-reported.

K&R

[pitohui]

5. you don't? really?

it's being under reported because a large % of pakistani -- a minority but still a noticeable percent of the population -- funds the taliban, and funded 9-11, they don't give a flying fuck abt us

as a person from louisiana, i'm truly troubled because i don't wanna see anyone drowning, but at the end of the day, i'm not willing to give $ that might fly back to me as bombs

sorry, that pakistani nuclear scientist who was happily sharing secrets w. the taliban has done a world of hurt

if i was there on the ground, able to see who took my $, i would give, because i could make some judgment it wouldn't get into terrorist hands

but i can't agree that gov't money should get out there

anyone remember rwanda? and all the "humanitarian aid" we put into "refugee camps" that proved to be full of genocidal fuckwits? THAT'S WHY WE'RE GUNSHY

read "we wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families" to see what i'm talking abt

there's a "fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me" factor here

pakistan has fooled us way more than twice

again, i would give to doctors w/out borders (there on the ground) or if i was there personally to make my own judgement but i'm, not gonna give to pakistan gov't at this time of century

they've "played" everybody and now they wonder why we're sick of it

[OhioChick]

I'm talking about DYING innocent people....

Not the Taliban.

I doubt funds sent to the "Red Cross", "Doctors Without Borders" or "Unicef" are going to make their way into TERRORIST hands.

:eyes:

[readmoreoften]

7. Kool. So you're okay with genocide because some percentage of the population, you speculate,

will use grain dropped from helicopters to what? fight the US?

Buy a clue. I hope the ghosts of all the dead women and children--including the 2 million female unionists who just won some pay increases --haunt you in your sleep.

[Hannah Bell]

24. ...

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. You know what will increase the chances of all that

you just posted?

The fall of the central government... which is a threat right now since all those groups you don't like are giving people food, clean water and blankets. I could recommend a few books, but I will leave it at that.

It amazes me how incredibly short sighted and provincial Americans can be.

As is, fortunately, the US Government gets it, and has diverted military equipment from Afghanistan, and is helping in relief operations. (And I am willing to bet at least one if not more Special Forces teams are on high alert, just in case a snatch and grab of a few nukes is needed)

[pnwmom]

12. And which do you think will win us more friends in Pakistan? Giving them help

when they need it? Or making war in Afghanistan and Iraq?

There ARE trustworthy organizations to distribute aid on the ground RIGHT NOW -- saying we can't do anything is a cop-out.

[valerief]

17. I thought the Saudis funded 9-11. nt

[Hannah Bell]

23. absolute garbage.

[babylonsister]

2. The US is doing a lot. Here's one story...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=409103

Obama has decided to triple the number of helicopters providing humanitarian assistance to Pakistan

[readmoreoften]

4. Triple the number of helicopters from 6 to 19? How many to we have killing people in Afghanistan?

Heck, how many do we have killing people in Pakistan? But hey, I guess predator drones aren't built to drop food.

[babylonsister]

6. You can bitch all day long. I posted 'one' story. Google what the

US has done. Or don't, because you'd rather be pissed off. :eyes:

Here: About 68,300,000 results (0.49 seconds) for pakistan floods us

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=pakistan+floods+us&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=pakistan+floods+us&gs_rfai=CxswmYUlrTJPeHpXcygTKj7DICgAAAKoEBU_QTm95&pbx=1&fp=ea2cd8eab02d18af

[readmoreoften]

9. Oh, I'm bitching all right. If we're not suspending military operations in Pakistan

to deliver aid, then we deserve the reputation we have.

WOW, that search is pretty fucking meaningless. You get 68 million hits for sites that have the words Pakistan Floods and US in them, huh? I guess that includes sites that say Pakistan Floods, US doesn't give a shit.

Your concern for the people of Pakistan is incredibly deep I'm sure. But, hey, whatever makes Obama look good.

[babylonsister]

10. And your pov is whatever makes Obama look bad. How is that

any better?

I always compare idiot son vs. Obama, and consider what would either do. Obama amazingly always wins.

No, he's not perfect, but at least he tries. I'm happy with that after railing against dimson for so many years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Those choppers ARE engaged in military operations

you think the military is ONLY used for killing people?

IN fact, if the US ever builds a fast response organization for this... what kind of discipline and order do you think they will need to have? MILITARY.

[pnwmom]

14. We should be doing FAR MORE. We can take the money out of our losing

war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Helping the Pakistanis now would do much more to improve our relations in that part of the world.

[babylonsister]

16. I want the wars to end, too. When you come up with a viable

plan, tell the President. He's committed in Afghanistan for 18 months, we're getting out of Iraq, that's the way it is. Your wishing and hoping and blogging about an alternate reality won't make it so.

[pnwmom]

20. You blog about plenty of things even though your wishing "won't make it so."

It's not my job to "come up with a viable plan." It's Obama's.

It's only my job to tell Obama and my representatives, and anyone else who will listen, what I think. And I have been, and will continue to do so.

[Bobbieo]

3. Mother Nature sure works in mysterious ways. I have signed several petitions

to the UN and other agencies for flood relief and have given a small donation to help the people of Pakistan while its next door neighbor,Iran, is in a dither about stoning a woman to death for adultery.

It sure doesn't add up!!!

[lonestarnot]

27. If that is what it was.

Mother Nature I mean.

[BeFree]

8. That's awful

I heard we would pull our Army soldiers out and send in our Army Corps of Engineers.

No, wait, that was just a brief "I am in utopia" sensation. Nevermind.

But just imagine the Mississippi without flood control.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

15. It's not much, but my sincere best thoughts go out to those in Pakistan.

I hope they get the help they need.

[Turborama]

18. K&R Thank you for posting this. I have been adding several articles & photos to my journal...

If anyone wants to catch up, here's the link: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Turborama

[pnwmom]

21. Thanks for the link, Turborama! I hadn't seen it. And thanks

for all your effort.

[Turborama]

25. You're welcome, it's the least I can do.

Here's a new one (it has several hi res pics): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4507879

[burrowowl]

19. AND THE RETHUGS

Say: There's no climate change going on!

[JCMach1]

22. Yes, we should but with corruption there eating 9/10 dollars, who do you trust

to do the job... :(

[pnwmom]

29. The UN and other organizations are there to see that the help gets where it needs to. n/t

[Number23]

26. rec'd

[OhioChick]

28. Kick

:kick:

[arbusto_baboso]

30. Oh, but there's no man-made climate change.....

:banghead: