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Subscribe to RSSIt's been a tough year for Pakistan-U.S. relations. Crucial NATO supply routes have been shuttered since November, there is tension over drone strikes and now the countries are at odds over the treason conviction of the Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. locate Osama Bin Laden.
NOWSHERA, Pakistan -- There has been little change to the scenes at Jalozai refugee camp in recent years.
Lines of worn and weary wait to register for services, clutching the few belongings they brought with them. Food rations and hygiene packs are distributed inside large tents and makeshift shelters bearing the brands of various United Nations and non-governmental agencies. And children -- some barely toddlers -- are everywhere you turn: packed into temporary tent schools, running through the labyrinthian "streets" of shelters, and holding their parents' places in various lines.
But the thousands that crowd the camp and the area around it today are different from the masses relocated during Pakistan's military operations of 2008 and 2009 in the country's northwest. They are different than the throngs seeking shelter after the devastating floods of 2010 and 2011. The vast majority of the 300,000 the camp currently supports are all from Khyber Tribal Agency bordering Afghanistan, where ongoing fighting between Pakistan's military and militant groups forced them to flee their homes and seek safety elsewhere.
As attacks increase, aid workers say they must keep safety in mind at all times. NBC's Amna Nawaz reports.
Tribesmen: US missiles strike village mosque
Unlike the previous groups of arrivals, this new group wasn't anticipated in such large numbers. At the height of the influx in mid-March, the camp was registering 5,000 new families a day. That number has slowed to 400 or 500 a day, but the arrivals continue. Resources the agencies thought would last for months, are now running out.
"Of course, everybody planned for an emergency," says Faiz Muhammed, chief coordinator of Jalozai camp. "But it was planned for, say 10,000 families, maybe for the rest of the year. We're now using up all those resources that were planned for nine months in just two months."
Aine Fay, chairperson of the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF)-- an informal network of 47 NGOs operating in Pakistan, says the funding situation is dire: less than 3 percent of the required budget to respond to the needs of internally displaced people is available.
"Agencies will run out of money by the end of June if the donor community don't respond," says Fay. "And we're facing into the monsoons of 2012. While we all hope that there will not be a repeat of the floods of 2011 or 2010, we have no guarantee and we have to be prepared for them."
Aid workers say they are concerned that the coming monsoon season may prove devastating for millions of people in Pakistan.
'We're worried'
Robin Lodge, of the World Food Programme (WFP) -- the sole food provider for the Jalozai families -- says the agency has already had to cut back rations to deal with the funding shortage.
"Funding is not too good," says Lodge. "We're worried about the monsoon season because that will put an additional strain on resources."
As the need for their services grows, aid and relief workers are also having to contend with increased insecurity across the country, as they more frequently become targets for kidnapping -- a common means of fundraising for many militant and criminal groups.
Since 2009, according to numbers compiled by PHF, at least 23 aid and development workers -- foreign and Pakistani staff -- have been kidnapped. Eighteen have been killed.
In 2009, eight staff members of two humanitarian organizations in the northwest Khyber-Pakhtunkwa (KPK) province were shot dead in two separate targeted attacks on their office. In 2010, six staff members of one agency were killed in an attack in KPK, and four other staff members were abducted and one was murdered in Balochistan. In 2011, 14 staff from two different organizations were abducted in separate incidents in Balochistan.
So far this year, five humanitarian workers have been abducted and four have been murdered in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab provinces.
Recently released video of American Warren Weinstein -- kidnapped from his Lahore home in August 2010 -- made headlines as the first sign of life since he was taken. The brutal April murder of Dr. Khalil Dale, a British aid worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Balochistan, again brought to the forefront the growing insecurity faced by relief workers in Pakistan.
An American aid worker kidnapped last summer in Pakistan resurfaced Monday morning in a video message released by al-Qaida. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
In response, the ICRC suspended its projects across much of the country as it reassesses its operations, placing local staffers on paid leave and bringing foreign staffers back from the field into Islamabad. This is the first time the agency has suspended operations in Pakistan since it began working here in 1947.
Local, national staff in particular are targeted here -- more visible and more frequently spending time on projects in their own communities than their foreign colleagues who visit sites from time to time. A fake vaccination program carried out by the CIA using local staff in the lead-up to the Osama bin Laden raid created additional problems for local humanitarian workers, leading to suspicion among communities as to aid organizations' true intentions.
Pakistan jails doctor who helped CIA find bin Laden
In February, InterAction -- the largest alliance of U.S.-based international NGOs -- sent a letter to CIA director David Petraeus expressing concern that activities like the vaccination program undermined humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and jeopardized the lives of their staff.
"The CIA's use of the cover of humanitarian activity casts doubt on the intentions and integrity of all humanitarian actors in Pakistan," wrote Samuel Worthington, InterAction's president. "It is imperative that independent, impartial humanitarian action be kept clearly distinct from intelligence-gathering activities. Any blurring of the two risks causing setbacks in decades-long global health and humanitarian efforts and endangers the lives of those working to make advances on the behalf of the global community."
Aid workers from multiple organizations told NBC News that security has always been a part of their planning in Pakistan, but re-assessments and operational re-adjustments have been necessary in recent years as the kidnappings and violence have increased.
Pakistan blocks Twitter over 'blasphemous content'
"I think for a lot of organizations, we would measure the vulnerability that communities are at -- the need for the services that we can provide -- versus the risk we think our staff are exposed to," says Fay. "If the risk is greater than the need on the ground, the answer is simple."
Muhammed Muheisen / AP
Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.
Humanitarian workers in Pakistan with whom we spoke, most who wished to remain anonymous, all maintain that despite the risk and the resources they must now divert from aid delivery to security considerations, their priorities remain the same.
"We have had to look at things more carefully, scale up in certain areas of security, re-evaluate," says Stacey Winston, with the UN's office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "We try to keep security a priority and also to maintain operations as much as possible, because that is really the priority -- to reach as many people as quickly as possible in the humanitarian response."
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For UN agencies and some other organizations aid has become a thriving business.
After many aid workers being kidnapped for ransom and killed, who in right mind will work in Pakistan?
As a part of "austerity measures" wind up UN aid agencies in Muslim nations.
Let the Saudis and other rich Muslims handle their problems.
During worst Paki floods, their President Zardari was dancing in bars in London, Paris and other places.
If they are not bothered, why should we worry?
Aine Fay, chairperson of the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF) should get out of Pakistan, an Islamic hell hole at the first opportunity.
The rich and powerful don't care about anything except themselves, it is always the people that suffers the most in any event in history.
Even at civilized countries like US, England, French, etc.. the exact same thing happens. People all over the world realize this, that's why some are willing to help others.
If you don't want to help people because their leaders or the rich don't want to help them first, then who would help them?
You know, the humanitarian in me says the aid workers are doing a good thing helping the downtrodden.
Here comes the "But";
Anyone who decides it's a good idea to go into these countries with the thought that "nothing bad is going to happen to me" needs to rethink that idea. Foreign aid workers are a ready and easily available target for any group trying to fund their terrorist activities.
I think a far better plan for helping out is using locals to help the refugees at the sites in-country and keep foreigners out of harms way by using their talents in the logistics of getting the aid to the country in need.
@ Okeeboy
You really think the local will help? They tried that before and it doesn't take long to realize some will try to hoard some or sell them for money or pick and choose who get it or gang will snatch all of that away.
At least that is most of cases happened before, there are exception where people actually help one another, but it always turn out with bad outcomes.
When you are in a whirlpool of chaos or things happen to you, it really hard to see the whole pictures. It would take people who see things from the outside to make a fair and reasonable judgement.
Jonathan and Okeeboy have it right.
Don't we give Pakistan HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of dollars in aid year after year? How's THAT working out?
What happened to all that money, or is THAT a rhetorical question?
ANYONE who takes on missionary work, regardless of their national origin, does so FULLY knowing the risks: Violence can flare up at any time and with little or no warning. Rapings, lootings and muggings are common in these rogue failed states. There is a HIGH risk of getting kidnapped and held for ransom by thugs posing as police.
And since the United States and other countries where the missionaries come from simply do NOT have the resources to keep tabs on and bail out these people if they run into trouble, they are ON THEIR OWN. Period.
We view life very different than most Muslims, for example when a rouge US soldier killed all those people and children in a village, not much happened, but when we accidental burned those Korans those folks went crazy. Seems our respect for life should better be spent in our own countries rather than in countries whose citizens dont care about their own countrymen.
CuongDNguyen - one has to remember that it is the "rich" that you complain about that support the Aid Programs. Actually, the "Great Satan" U.S.A. supports a good part of the World, the U.S. at times "is the Aid Program". ALL AID GROUPS SHOULD PULL-OUT OF PAKISTAN AND LET THE LEADERSHIP OF PAKISTAN TAKE CARE OF ITS OWN PEOPLE. The West should immediately stop sending aid and funds to countries that attack the countries supplying the aid. It's called incentive, you want to live then you MUST stop attacking those that help you survive.
Pakistan has nuclear weapons but can't take care of their own people? Also I recently read that Pakistan wastefully spends millions keeping troops above 10,000 feet along the Indian border.
They need to cut military/intelligence spending and take care of their population. All these altruistic people are doing is enabling corrupt governments.
Pull the aid, let them fix themselves. Could become a Muslim North Korea.
Reminds me of a Star Trek episode where the two warring sides had made the casualty count so easy and antiseptic (those designated deceased in an attack reported to kill centers) that there was no incentive to end the war. Kirk fixed that by making each side use real missiles instead of computer simulations. He figured they'd be so horrified by the resulting blood and gore, they'd sue for peace pretty quickly.
By making war less awful, are we enabling it to continue?
Most of the aid monies in Pakistan, Afghanistan and many nations go into a few pockets!
HOTTICKET: My post was a reply to yours. Let me add more.
Some monies are diverted to Islamic militants fighting NATO forces. This joke has been going on since 2001. Still Pakis are "strategic ally."
This is the problem with the world it is always someone else that should do something. Yes in the US we have people that need are help but, there is a political party here that says they are the Religious people but, vote for those that show no Christian values. If everyone helped those they see in need then we would have less problems everywhere.
FYIU, its not that aid workers don't realize the risks. Its out of their nature to help despite the risks. And most of them know that they might give up their lives so some kid can have a swing, and their parents can lie about where that swing came from instead of saying it came from an aid worker.
The problem lies in the mistaken belief that if you 'just' give someone food or help, you aren't posing a challenge to figures of power. How do you think tyrants control populations? They do it by controlling food, by controlling goodwill projects, controlling hospitals, etc. So when you go to Somaila, for example, and make the local warlord's control over his people weaken, because you gave them the food he was controlling the distribution of, well then, you get an aid worker kidnapping/murder.
Its not the aid workers who misunderstand. Its the people here, not understanding how we end up threatening some primitive tribe's leaders by offering them simple help. Bottom line is, aid should literally not be allowed to Pakistan. It is an enemy country who thinks Osama Bin Laden is a hero, and uses terrorists to bomb its own enemies. Plus it risks its nuclear stockpile every day in unsafe ways. You think the US isn't watching its nuclear back door, well....Anyway, Pakistan belongs on the same list as Iran.
I have to agree with most others on here. I fully support the intent of these mission workers and trying to help others, don't disagree with that at all and its amazing that these people are willing to do that. However, even though this article is written more like its a surprise they are targets, these workers better not have had any illusions about what they are heading into and hopefully they didn't. If any of them are surprised they are getting targeted well sorry, but traveling to another country like Pakistan ($hit hole that the majority of people living there hate the west) and thinking your immune to this because your helping, well your a moron plain and simple, and maybe your actually are doing everyone a favor, inadvertently anyways. I agree with Derek's comment as well, its not just going and helping people, there are many other things involved that you must consider.
Bottom line I say let there fellow countrymen and mideast countries lead them out of this mess and help them out. These people have a whole different mindset than we do in the west. I would love to get them out of stone age times but they have to want to at the same time, and I don't see it, at least not now. I'm sick of Pakistan and the constant backstabbing. This whole thing is a joke. Draw the line in the sand and tell them enough. If they didn't have nukes I seriously doubt we would care what they did. As long as we can keep them in line, as far as these parts of the world go, give them the finger and leave. Yes there are resources here but if we really wanted to we can develop tech that would make their resources virtually useless to us. I also understand the aid and "buying" stability in these regions or whatever but I think it is time to start questioning that and really see what that is doing because I think the effect is wearing off and doing so quicker and quicker. This money, time, and effort is being wasted and could be better used else where.
To the aid workers, again I do support the intent of what you do and your mission, but how about coming back to the home front? There are more than enough people in this country that could use your love and kindness. I'm all for helping out the downtrodded but I do question how much we should help others aborad when we have so many here that could use it at the same. If I was putting my eggs in a basket, more of them would be going here for sure and when it came time for cuts, I know where the cuts would be from first.
Just in case no one else reads "other news" stories, the Pakistan armed forces are currently busy with producing a new joint strike aircraft with the People's Republic of China. They have also just wrapped up tests for a new class of medium range missile, and they are losing an escalating arms race with India. Call me cynical, but the Pakistani government could be doing things differently if they choose to, but their priorities are pretty clear (at least to me).
They don't want to work with US - time for the laissez fairy.
The best help for these people would be birth control!
Thank you, Ronton!!! I agree with your post. Quite frankly, I'm tired of having all this crap showed down my throat, 'help these poor children'...stop reproducing at such high rates when you can't even feed yourself.
MUGTECH
I couldn't have said it better; Pakistan is the Muslim equivalent of North Korea and should be treated as such.
(CNN) -- Iranian sailors helped scare off armed pirates who attacked an American cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, Iranian state media reported Thursday.
It's the latest example of U.S.-Iranian cooperation on pirate-infested high seas despite a wave of tensions between Washington and Tehran over the decades.
The incident occurred northeast of Fujairah, a port for refueling oil tankers, the Fars News Agency said. The port, in the United Arab Emirates, is close to the Strait of Hormuz, an important oil shipping lane.
Iranian navy vessels received a distress signal from the U.S. cargo ship Maersk Texas during patrols.
Read more:http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/24/world/meast/iran-pirates/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
But ...but They hate our freedoms. They are terrorists ...right. They hate Israel. Iran wants to wipe Israel off the map. We have to put more sanctions on them. They hate Americans and our Democracy.
I heard it on FOX.
They hate our Freedoms.
( End Sarcasm )
Derek.... This comes after we rescued several Iranian ships and crew from pirates multiple times. Them helping us for a change was only a face saving action. Yes they do want to wipe Israel off the map and in fact vowed to do it ON TV IN FRONT OF THE WORLD!
johngis, did you actually see and hear them say that?
Can you speak and understand Iranian?
Amanutjob said (paraphrased) Imagine there's no Israel, as a few years ago nobody could imagine no Soviet Union, but now it's gone.
I think we need an end to Jewish and Palestinian racism in one country where they can accept each others existence. The Zionists and the Palestinians have to understand that racism is not the answer to racism.
I'm a human being and a brother of all. That's why I should be concerned about the impoverished even if and, or when some supposed leader is not. Furthermore, the CIA shouldn't gain their intelligence on the backs of aid workers jeapordized by fake humanitarian efforts.
Hatred begets more hatred, the only way to actually do it is to show kindness where it needs most. My family got help from missionaries and charity organization in the past, so we are committed to help people in return.
In a world where the rich and powerful only care for themselves and doing everything in theirs power to stay at the top. The one that suffers the most are the people and this is true in any events throughout history. Those who receive kindness from others are the one that willing to help in return when they can, that is how we survive and evolve so far. Without that, we are still living in the tyranny and rules of the past.
Humanitarian Crisis? BUlLSH*T! WE send millions of dollars to the government every year, and what do they do? They turn around and give it to the Taliban to kill us or put it into Swiss bank accounts. If their people are starving then it is THEIR FAULT not any one else.
If they spent the money on food and taking care of the people instead of buying weapons and the leaders living big off OUR TAXPAYER MONEY there would be no so called "humanitarian Crisis".
Did you ever notice how things like food banks, care centers and medical centers are always ran by Christians, I have yet to see any Humanitarian outlet ran by Muslims.
"Did you ever notice how things like food banks, care centers and medical centers are always ran by Christians, I have yet to see any Humanitarian outlet ran by Muslims."
You did read the article and notice that many of the aid workers being killed and kidnapped are Pakistani? So your saying what about their level of charity? That their dying is meaningless because you think christians are more generous.
Doesn't the bible teach to be humble? Of course its only a book like the Koran written by man over the course of 2,000 years. Nothing more than a jumble of words and writing styles picking and plagiarizing traditions from various belief systems.
Patrick, these Pakistani's are employees of the NGO's, there is nothing charitable about them working for these organizations since without a paycheck I suspect they wouldnt be there.
It helps if you actually look to see what is going on in the world.
http://www.ngoworldpk.com/knowledge-bank/muslim-ngos-and-charities.htm
You will see that many of the Islamic charities, fund and support terrorism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_charities_accused_of_ties_to_terrorism
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/08/cnn_promotion_of_islamic_relie.php
CNN Promotion of Islamic Relief Worldwide Group Linked to Jihadist Organizations
In the article it talks about all these kids running around the camps, I hate to say this but all these organizations do is to support a massive population explosion. What happens in 20 yrs when these kids have kids, when every family has 8 or more children who live because of food aid and medical aid? Where there is massive unemployment and poor education you will get even more radical extremists coming out of this area. These NGO's in the long run will create even more poverty and need for aid in the future.
Why are we supplying aid to these sub-human vermin anyway? They are fleeing a problem which is of their own making. If they don't like the terrorists operating in their area then all they have to do is quit supporting them. These vermin support the terrorists either directly or inaction. Either way they are supporting them because they think they are right and that all western countries are the enemy. The sooner we eradicate the vermin and repopulate with humans the better.
Let 'em rot. Not because they are muslim....because they are Pakistani
Pakistan is largely the author of its own suffering, because it has not given the international community free access to deal with the terrorist problem within its national borders. This terrorist problem is an international problem, and the international community should be given complete access to Pakistani territories so it can effectively deal with this festering problem. Much as I personally hate to have to say this, international aid should be withheld from Pakistan until it agrees to do this. - RC
(There are many other needy areas of our world where these aid workers can potentially serve, which are willing to allow the international peacemakers and peacekeepers in to do their jobs.) - RC
Bad news it's true. The third world style and mentality doen't work anymore. This is the 21st. century and all this killing has to be put to an end. Humpy Dumpy has fallen off the wall and all the kings people and all the kings horses can never put him back again. Since these governments haven't worked and continue to do what they do WE AMERICANS wind up getting attacked right here in our home land the U.S.A. The world does not evolve by AK-47 alone. Even as these desperate people suffer and the risk the aid people are at. their funds not sufficent enough to do better. Time has run out. It's time the terrorist causing these things to happen are put out of business. The terrorist weren't satisfied with continued chaos in there own lands and resolving the situation for themselves for there own populist. They decided to come to America to attack and kill us too. Well the good news is they came to the wrong valley. We fear no evil. America isa nation of people. One nation and we live under one God. America has a justice system. Justice will be served to those who wrong us crossing the line and kill us because of who we are and the way we live. So now if it's one or all who continue to go and kill others for the sake of whatever ailes them. We are out to stop you. Lay down your weapons. Change your ways, because when we walk through your valleys and mountains of evil, you are not feared by us Americans. You have no idea what will happen if you think you can just have your way and come to America creating you ill and chaos here. We have enough of our own home grown problems. American justice is being served. How do you like us now. The terrorist have a habit of hiding and running. Time, life and money means nothing to them. They scheme in their ideology and tribal ways like a bunch of old drunks with nothing to do and wasting away wanting to die and to take as many people with them before they do die. I don't know anyone who likes the fact this is going on so long. Had 911 never happened to us we would not be where we are today. But like it or not our government (all parties ) are doing what they can to best protect the homeland and Justice for the American and world good. Sometimes good people have to do some not so nice things to get things right. The choice of going back to the old world ways or moving into the 21st. century and beyond. The worlds big enough for all of us to survive and live in peace. If evil people continue to want to die and kill us then there is no place they can hide and scheme. We will come and get you. Justice will be served. Dead or alive. Had the Hitler won the war think how your world would be today. If Japan had won the War think how your world would be today. The terrorist must be defeated too. Can you imagine how the world will be tomorrow if they win. The world stands the best chance having the United States because there can be a win-win for all. World peace is acheivable I believe.
Honestly, I do not care about Pakistan, but only at this time about me as a United States citizen.
I am sorry.
My family was violently harmed for no reason, and the persons that caused it were never prosecuted for it and still persist in inflicting the same crime, while my son serves his nation in the military.
"At least 23 aid and development workers -- foreign and Pakistani staff -- have been kidnapped. Eighteen have been killed." by the people they are trying to help. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!
It's very clear that most have come to the same conclusion that I have, this aid is just driving the situation to lower and lower levels. It's down to to 3% of what is needed. Let it go to zero. All of the US's monetary aid has done nothing but fuel the hatred the Pakistanis have for us. They are more than willing to kidnap and kill their helpers, just to extort more "aid." And I'll bet that aid doesn't go to the starving women and children. I'll bet most of it goes to their buddies in the Taliban.
It's time to get out of the Afghanistan and Pakistan. Let them fend for themselves. I know if we were that hard up in the United States, not one of them would lift a finger to provide comfort or aid to us.
With the casualty rate in Pakistan rivaling that in Afghanistan it's time for all NGOs to stand-down and withdraw from Pakistan for their own safety and survival, they have proven not to be a very good ally in the war on terror with their support of the Harquonii network and Taliban, the Pakis won't even provide security to the aide orgs serving their own citizens in their country.
Send all the aide and workers next door to Afghanistan where we need to make a big push for hearts and minds before our military pulls out. The US already invests in the realm of $2 billion in tax payer foreign aide in Pakistan. Time for the Pakis to rework their countrys' budget to afford to support their own citizens. Maybe cut back on nuclear weapon development to ease regional instability. How about trimming their ISI intelligence service expenditures since they're not acting very intelligent in their support of terrorist organizations. Just commute the 30 year treason sentence of the Doctor who verified the locale of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan when the ISI couldn't or wouldn't.
Show any kind of good faith Pakistan. Drop the $5,000 fee per vehicle for NATO supply convoys going through Kyber Pass, I'm sure Paki officials skim 20% of supplies that go through their county. Why does Pakistan protest drone attacks in the Northern Tribal areas where the national government has no authority or sovereignty over the terrorist and their supporter there. Pakis, help your own people for awhile until you no longer take all the aide and assistance you receive for granted from those countries that have proven to be your allies.
Mackie-474167 I appreciate your post. I too am sorry. Sorry for these the things happening in our world to our loved ones and all the people kinda wants me to get crazy. I prefer to live and let live. I want to live the American dream. Problem is there are those who want all of us hurt or dead and believe they can get away with it. If I look the other way and pretend it's not happening I'm fooling myself. I can vent here and get some relief and I guess that's all I have the capacity to do. As long as there is peace and I can survive my remaining days I could care less about whats happening around me. Yet I know whats happening today if not stopped will sooner or later directly catch up to me and further harm me, you, and anyone or anything that is important to us. I don't like to bitch and complain and I don't know what I can do to change any of this. But as a free living American citizen I find some relief at least voicing my opinions in places like this. Maybe if we can all come together in action and spirit we can change the world we live in. Peace to you and goodwill to all.
didn't one of our so called leaders announce to the world about the doctor that helped find osama bin laden? is this the message they are portraying in this story about using humanitarianism to gather intel? so, if that is so, one of our leaders essentially has endangered the lives of all the people working for these humanitarian agencies.
Yes, but a mass-murderer was caught and killed in the process. How many lives were saved in that act alone? With Osama Bin Laden dead, tens of thousands of lives have been spared. Well worth the risk to aid workers that already knew their jobs were dangerous from the start.
Why did the US have to even mention the doctor? Why do we keep putting operational information out to the world? Wasn't it good enough to get Bin Laden? Why tell everyone HOW we did it?
Dumbasses
There is competition among the free press to reveal information first no matter who gets jailed or killed; and then they consider themselves a victim. It's all about tearing down government so that corporations can get a free lunch and free hand in what they do.
Its a shame that we humans have evolved only one notch above the ape so far, and there are those that horde and let others starve. The rich class is obsolete at the point.
If these God-foresaken countries won't feed their own people let them starve. No humanitarian aid worker should have to risk kidnapping or death to help another human being. This only happens in Muslim countries and the Muslims have to provide security for their humanitarian aid workers to help their own people.
Get the hell out of that terrorist infested toilet and let them starve. The more aid westerners give to these refugees the less help that the Taliban has to give them. The terrorists will feed them if westerners don't.
Pakistan is a bottomless pit of hopelessness. These people cannot find their rear with both hands. They are starving but will kill the infidel who feeds them. This part of society needs to fade out of existence and never return. As long as ignorance and religion cohabitate so excellently these situations will always exist and there is not one thing anyone anywhere can do about it.
I can't really fault your description of Pakistan. I'd be curious to see if you think America also has a problem with ignorance and religion excellently co-habitating.
In my opinion they are co-joined twins world-wide.
Sounds like a right-wing America.
I recently watched Hillary Clinton on C-Span describe Pakistan as a country with an extremely wealthy elite. Apparently an elite who feel no responsibility, whatsoever, for the well-being of their fellow countrymen. Yet the poor and desperate of Pakistan blame the United States, not their own elites, for any problems that they have. Our media seem to magnify this problem. How many investigative reports have you ever read about the elite of Pakistan? Plenty of articles like these, describing the poverty and hardship. Yet even the authors of these articles make no effort, whatsoever, to point a finger at those who are truly responsible. How about taxing the wealthy elite of Pakistan? These articles are little more than propaganda. They could even be authored by members of that elite, for all we know. The American people are getting tired of this lack of honest, hard-hitting journalism. If the people of Pakistan do not start speaking out, loudly, against their own elites and stop blaming America for all their problems then we SHOULD withdraw the extremely generous support we have provided and let them get what they wish for -- an end of American generousity in Pakistan.
Your post almost reads perfectly if you just replace the words "United States" with "Pakistan" and visa-versa.
Try it !
I'm wondering if Hilary Clinton caught the irony of her statement...
Is Mitt from Pakistan?
So, apparently, you do not think that the wealthy elite of Pakistan owe anything, at all, to their fellow countrymen? Please tell me you actually know something about Pakistan . . . or are you completely clueless about Pakistan? Otherwise you are making useless noise. If you want to post about American politics, fine, please find an article that is discussing that issue. Otherwise you might as well be discussing Kim Kardashian or your toenail troubles. Or perhaps you want to institute a tax on America's elite to pay for the poor of Pakistan? How about just writing a check out of your own checkbook? Nothing is stopping you, after all.
Too bad, folks. Pakistan has repeatedly refused deals with the US to allow supplies to flow to soldiers in Afghanistan, so the cash the US would have paid for the transport of that stuff is not there. Pakistan is too proud (or devious) to admit they are wrong to blame the US for their stupid attacks in the border areas against US forces, so that's the way things sit. If Pakistan were to listen to the UN or any other rational entity, it would know it still needs help to keep its country out of the hands of the Taliban and al Qaeda, but pride has its price, and pride will be the downfall of Pakistan. Just think of the money the Pakis could make from the sale of their nuclear weapons to the free world, but they hate their neighbors so much, they'll never give that up. Puck Fackistan.
I don't even give coins to the girl scouts that flood the super market exit.
Any country that jails the one who helped in the elimination of Bin laden doesn't deserve to be helped.
This is a hopeless situation because of the tyrannical fanatics who run the show over there- time to pull out everything and let them burn themselves out
The "do gooders" will continue to supply aid. I think the aid should be from the donations of the various charities rather than tax dollars spent where the people don't want it. We are obviously shoving it down their throats and since someone is shooting at us they don't want help. When they get a handle on the nuts shooting perhaps and only perhaps we send them something. All our generosity is doing is getting our people shot. If they can't curb their enthusiasm for America perhaps we should curb our willingness to supply them at our peril.
It's time to let the Pakistani's deal with their own internal problems.
They might have less time to allocate to military activities affecting neighboring countries.