


No sign of a rainbow


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It would seem that the UN has commitments fo about $1 billion dollars for this poor destitutes.
Let us not forget the Pakistan army has done hardly anything to help these people. AND remember that it was under Musharaff - the army dictator , that there was an outlay of $200 million for the maintainance of anti flood dykes , and booms for flood water , plus leaking irrigation channels etc.
None of that money was used for the purpose, but instead got put into swiss bank accounts.
Is there a real caring man amongst these people ?
freedom of Press would have exposed these corrupt officials , but who would dare to speak against army generals when they are in power ?
Don't waste your maney.
let them manage with the $1 billion from the UN ( They need around $7-10 billion)

Living in the west - I will vote against any Political party that Gives Pakistan any money at all.


Please do not help us.Atleast that way we will find our destiny. Why does that world not let us stand on our two feet? When there will be no financial help we will either stand up or perish. Either way we will atleast be doing it ourselves.

J Wu

Let them rely on Islamic charity.

And then we will see that the Muslim has no charity for his own kind, but would rather like to blame everything on the West.

J Wu

I'm sorry, but what happened in Pakistan was a preventable disaster.

The monsoons happen every year.

But instead of spending the billions of dollars they get from the US and other nations in aid on things that will help their people, they spend it on weapons and aiding terrorists.

Western countries are already the biggest donators to Pakistan in this disaster, and yet there is no gratitude from Pakistan at all, in fact, they're still angry that we don't send more.

I will not donate one cent.


Pakistan Army is efficient at one thing and one thing alone - Ruining Pakistan.

The holy trinity of Allah, Army and America is destroying the very essence of a warm and welcoming culture which used to exist in the land which Pakistan now represents. Under the Sufis this land used to far moderate and peace loving

rannia PAK

by reading all comments, its obvious, what people are thinking now. Nobody is talking about the VICTIMS of flood. everybody is thinking about the corrupt government and poor management. its time to realize the pain of the victims. they are waitng for your help. your 50$ would add some relief to the victims. If you dont trust govt. then you can help through Pak Army, who is working efficiently for victims.


Fact 1 - Majority of Pakistan's IMF supported budget goes on weapon procurement.

Fact 2 - It is widely known to be the biggest state supporter of terrorism and finally David Cameroon said it openly.

Fact 3 - Most of Pakistani military and government elite have investments abroad. Zardari himself keeps a chateau in France. Quite fascinating to note that his net worth is over $1 billion.

Fact 4 - Leaders have no interest in welfare of pakistan. Zardari was giving Bilal's (his son) career a boost by taking him around Paris and London. This same son aka devout muslim was gulping down vodka in frat parties in oxford and sleeping around in preparation to lead this fractured nation. Ask anyone in Oxford who was in the same class about Bilal's arrogant and snobby behaviour.

Fact 5 - Its childish ego and jealousy grows with time. India wanted to declare independence on August 15 so they chose August 14 as their independence day. It made sure it tested one more weapon than India.

Fact 6 - MOST IMPORTANT - in this country the Sharia justice system and honor killings are considered fair and just. Just one example of Sharia is stoning a woman to death for adultery. How can one come around to saving a person who believes in stoning a women to death in this day and age.

The world needs to urgently nip this problem in the bud and take action now. This parasite of a nation will keep using nukes as a bargaining chip to extract more and more aid in exchange for peanuts.


It seems that the world is not as Stupid as the Pakistani generals and ISI thought it was.

Do they think that the last kashmir earthquake was the last disaaster they were going to have ?
Only those who really believe that Allah was smiling upon them would not have realized the that accountability was not a problem.

I say - Morally it is better to give to Somalia then to Pakistan...AND it is immoral to give to either.

How many lies has the ISI told the rest of the world ? AND they thought these lies were inconsequential ?



Everyone is paid by there own coin.

This flood was in the making for a decade. Pakistan was putting more money into buying war gears than actually looking for their own people and infrastructure.

In addition that, world also came to know about their double dealing with US and they are not going to get any help for this.

Even liberal readers of NYT, who will always support helping people in need, is now turning around and saying they are not willing to send any money since that money will be used by Pakistani people to kill Americans!

See for yourself:


And if you notice their names and English, you could tell that they are not Asians - at least not the first generation Asians.

I suggest send NO AID this time - let them handle it! I would rather give money to Haiti! Have them sell some F14s, their leaders expensive villas in Europe! They have money to buy Nuclear Reactors from China last month and have no money to repair bridges!

Yes, Pakistan offends me by taking advantage of our good faith and then turning back and killing our people. It will be great if Europe and USA just stopped giving visas for their politicians, military leaders and/or anyone with net worth over a million dollar.

Make their rich stay in their own country! They will probably have to fix things anyway ... currently they just slip out from Pakistan and enjoy Europe/America and come back just to milk the country for more money!

We should not put up with this anymore!


Lets sum up this useless debate in one line - Pakistan was, is and will be a failed state.

Underlying fact supporting this statement is that it works in the best interests of many individuals (Corrupt Pakistani generals and politicians whose kids are known to flaunt wealth in US or UK universities), firms (security contractors are minting gold everyday for services provided) and nations (China cant help but rub its hand with glee to have a nutty nation to hold India back while it grows faster than ever)

As much as one would like to help the common man in Pakistan who is suffering from the natural disasters, there is simply no way one can be sure that his help wont somehow lead to his or her blowing up in the not too distant future.

Pakistan doesnt have any strong cohesive factors except anti-India feelings (most arising from childish ego and jealousy) and even they cant always explain why once again the government, army and jihadis have all let them down by not protecting them from another disaster.

This discontment is a ticking timebomb and sooner this is defused the better. CIA should get cracking on how to carve Pakistan up into more manageable portions much on the USSR blueprint. If it doesnt, its very likely that Pakistan will be the base for the first ever large scale terrorist attack using nuclear materials. Iran may be aggressive and a longer term target but Pakistan now poses and a clear and present danger to global security.

God save us all from whats going to come from this dangerous country. Their cricket is just about the only good thing left to watch these days and that too when their players dont get too hungry on the field and start chewing the ball and claim it to be an act on behalf of Allah.


I have to a simple question , of everyone here.

Why does Pakistan deserve help ? Why ? specially considering that the West has afforded less help to places like Somalia ?

Why is Senator Kerry, in the USA , not tying in the bill for $6.5 billion aid for Pakistan , with a firm commitment that the Pakistani army stop all Propaganda against the US.

But why are they not helping Somalia more? before doing anything for Pakistan ?


Oiy! This will give readers heartburn!

Pakistani flood victims' anger at US. BBC News Service, Aug 21, 2010.

'"We're doing so much to help the United States in the war on terrorism. Now we're in crisis and we expect help," said one of the businessman donors.'

'Ayaz Amir, an MP in Nawaz Sharif's opposition party, said: "The United States is spending $5bn every month on the war in Afghanistan. That puts into context what they're giving us." '

'They were getting some food, they said, but their community had been knocked back about 25 years. Sugar and flour was not enough - they needed new houses, new possessions, new books and supplies in the local school to replace everything they had lost. '

Insurgents who bomb (and are still setting off bombs) and no less disliked than the US.

The largess of years past, where foreign aid and NGOs would come in and rebuild communities, give them schools and replace possessions, is long gone - if it ever truly existed.

Global giving is stretched to capacity. Someone will have to tell these people that food, water, tents, and basic medicine, is about as good as it's going to get in the months ahead.

It's been bad year for flood, drought, famine and earthquakes.


Being an Indian myself all that i d like to say is that Pakistanis are indeed as lovable and friendly as their Indian neighbors. The only thing that they lacked from the independence era till today's flood situation has been a strong,dynamic people's-leader!!

Reluctant Polluter


"Pakistan is not corrupt enough when it comes to helping Americans and English fight their Holy War agains Afghanistan, but it is too corrupt to merit relief in case of a metereological disgrace...

Hmmm... am I missing something?"

You're missing the whole point: the disaster in Pakistan is mostly societal and civilizational; it has much more to do with the nation's collective psychology and mentality than with meteorology.

As to the Pakistani help in fighting a Holy War, yes, that is very valuable observation of yours - every terrorist, or aspiring terrorist caught in the West had received training in some terrorist camp, and indoctrination in a mosque in Pakistan.


If money is given then it will be misappropriated either by the politicians or corrupt bureaucracy or corrupt army. Thus, those who are desperately in need of assistance in any case will not get it. Because of which, the world is told that the disgruntled population will liberally add to the number of terrorists! If money is not given then the world is told that it will again add to the number of terrorists and it could be a threat to world peace.

For decades, Pakistan has been quite an expert in the art of black mailing the world and getting the funds it wants. It has not stopped terrorism or reduced the number of terrorists in any manner. For once, the world should understand and insist credible response on the issue of terrorism before releasing funds.

In general, countries have army to protect itself. Pakistan is a peculiar country where they have an army to support which they have occupied a big country (Pakistan) and holding the entire people to ransom. Unless the ISI/Pak defence establishment is completely closed down, Pakistan as a country will not prosper. The army and ISI have propped up too many monsters from time to time and they make a show of hounding them.

The country needs a new credible defence force, not the existing discredited army. Politicians and bureaucrats have already been discredited. Maybe for a few decades, Pakistan needs to be administered by the UN - then the country and its people (and all neighbouring countries) would have peace and prosperity.

Reluctant Polluter

@ intuitive:

"Note that my previous post didn't actually say it was man-made climate change"

Be sure, intuitive, this Reluctant Polluter did notice that. You and your really (and rarely) well informed post were not the target of my snideness. Forgive me please if it felt like personal...


A natural disaster of this proportion reveals the weaknesses of our countries, be they rich, middle-income, or poor. Help, not finger-pointing, must be our immediate response, irrespectively of the political or socioeconomic situation of the nation so afflicted.

Long-run assistance to Pakistan is another business. It probably calls for the improvement of civil defense strategy and structures, badly needed education for the urban and rural masses, and, among other things, the intensification of the efforts related to family planning. Pakistan is soon to become the world's fifth most populous nation, surpassing Brazil, which has a vaster territory (and a much lower total fertility rate).


The never ending question. How does one fight corruption in Bureaucracy ?

One cannot fight it by killing off these people. One fights it by using both the carrot the stick and private enterprise

Firstly , the men who handle all this money should always be paid well. Even then there will always be the corrupt ones. But there will be a lot more Honest ones around, ones who are not compromised by their monetary needs.

Then set the honest ones to start prosecuting the corrupt ones. Make mincemeat out of these corrupt ones.
Move these people around departments as well , so that they do not get to know the culture and the sub-contractors too well.

Also put these Bureaucrats on contracts , so that they do not feel too secure in their jobs. Make sure that they can be sacked.

And lastly farm out as many jobs to sub-contractors to private enterprise as much as possible.

It is doubtful that a change of systems and firming up the rules will definitely change all the culture , BUt one has to make a start somewhere. AND one has to keep on trying.


Pakistan’s people generally applauded their government when it detonated an atomic warhead. The money used in developing their arsenal could have gone into infrastructure to prevent this catastrophe. Pakistan’s people have chosen poorly and now must pay the price.


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