Apathy of another kind

When the floods hit Pakistan last July, all private channels stormed into the muddy waters to capture events not captured by others and took credit of being the first to reach the desperate people. The Punjab Chief Minister took pains to reach the flood victims on a motorcycle; taking a “lift” from someone heading towards the flooded area (I wonder why he staged the drama). A few ministers, and even the president and the PM clad in beautifully creased attire had photo sessions with the shivering people still stranded in mud and slime. And then by and by, events other than floods became more important and media hype too died down to report other issues.

Angelina Jolie flew all the way from her cozy abode to sit like ordinary people with the poor women on a village cot and was angry when she was given gifts in a state banquet in her honour. She went back disgusted and unhappy as she could not find the hearts bleeding and eyes crying over the tragic loss of life and property in the higher ups of the government.

Even there is no more talk of the so called model villages for the flood victims, but we do hear construction of parliament lodges at an exuberant cost of Rs. 3 billion for the already filthy rich members of the parliament. We also hear of import of bullet proof cars but not a mention of taking flood victims back from their now tattered tents braving the severe winter.

I have voiced my concern a number of times and I am sure none of these would have been read by anyone. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has been continuously voicing its concerns and is of the view that the problems of the flood-hit population all over Pakistan seem to have come off the priority list even though the difficulties facing the affected people remain as challenging as ever and in some areas have even aggravated.

Conducting a survey and ascertain the damage and needs assessment in 33 flood-affected districts across the country, the HRCP is of the opinion that the government policies to deal with the post-flood situation lack consistency and do not take into account the dissimilar needs and the varying nature and extent of damage in different areas. HRCP has also pointed out towards serious allegations of corruption in distribution of material and financial assistance by the official and non-government organizations. Discrimination on various grounds, including political and official patronage, have also reported in provision of assistance and in reconstruction.

The role of the NDMA seems minimal or even to the extent of saying non-excitant to provide and implement any worthwhile and comprehensive strategy for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people. The much trumpeted Watan Card has died its own death after paying a paltry Rs. 20,000 to flood victims, which even has not reached everyone. The second tranche of Rs. 80,000 is not in sight.

The work to restore the destroyed infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools and health facilities is pathetically slow paced. People are finding difficulties in going back to their flood hit areas as in most of the cases either the flood water is still standing or has made the area look like a quagmire. Those who have made it to their desolate lands have not been given seeds and other assistance to relive their lives and continue with the cultivation. Farmers and tenants who lacked influential patronage missed out on financial and material assistance, including seeds and fertilizer, building material or work for their subsistence, are now finding it difficult to start afresh.

We need to keep talking and reminding the government not to forget the poor who have suffered and lost their life long belongings and desperately need our help. Our media too needs to find time and send their teams to continue monitoring the plight of the flood victims, lest these poor are forgotten forever

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Flood Victims – the devastated people forgotten forever

When the floods, one of the worst in the world ever, hit Pakistan last year in July, it swept away everything that came its way. It rendered some 20 million people affected by it and countless became homeless. The people of Pakistan and many countries of the world came forward to help the destitute. Truck loads in thousands were sent to provide the basic needs to those rendered homeless. Tent villages were established to provide the temporary shelter to them till they could be helped to reconstruct their houses once again. Media talked of them day and night and each channel on TV and each politician tried to score a point over the other by “reaching first” to people in distress.

Now almost six months after, the life of people living in tents has become anything but miserable. The media has more juicy stories to air and the departments related to disaster management are high and dry as all resources have dried up, rather wasted and plundered away by the influential. The promises of ideal villages have been scrapped and new slogans of schools and other projects are being raised. The government is busy in point scoring on the opposition and the opposition is drumbeating with their own many point agendas.

While the poor are out there “camping,” the government has embarked upon an ambitious plan of constructing “state of the art” lodges for the internally displaced members of the parliament cost Rs. 3 billion. The UN has showed its distress over the fate of the homeless people while as per a Red Cross estimate some four million people are still homeless and need shelter immediately.

Under such circumstances when no one seem to talking of the flood affected people, it seems their fate is sealed forever and they would have to build their houses on their own while the rich members of the parliament, who were elected by the votes of these very people, continue to live in their palatial residences and roam about official bullet proof cars. The farce of reaching flood hit people on motorcycles is over, and reality has again come back where no cares for the poor.

Seeing the state of affairs, let us not talk of these miserable and the destitute – as these devastated people have been forgotten forever.

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Our leaders need to learn from the Venezuelan President

Recently, Venezuela was hit by torrential rains and devastating floods that rendered over 100,000 people homeless and killing some 30. Moved by the miseries of his people, the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered to erect a Bedouin tent for him, gifted to him by the Libyan president Gaddafi. In the gardens of his presidential palace, while allowing the homeless to move into the presidential palace till arrangements are made for the their shelter. As per a news report, already 25 families have been shifted into the presidential palace. He has even asked his staff to put beds in his office to make more space.

Now compare the devastation by flood in Venezuela and Pakistan. In our case the flash floods affected some 20 million across the entire length and breadth of the country. The homeless still shiver in the cold weather under the sky in tents, which cannot stop the chilly winds from penetrating inside and making the life of the homeless miserable and pathetic. Has their plight has any effect on our leaders? Did anyone made the gesture of vacating his official residence for the flood hit people? Except for few photo sessions during the flood days, the people of the water seem to have been totally forgotten. The showy motorcycle appearances and sitting on ground with the poor in creaseless and well pressed clothes have long been gone. The palatial living by the kings and ministers continues with no disregard at all for the people suffering for want of food, warm clothing and shelter.

A few days back I wrote “Have we forgotten the flood victims?” and aired my feelings. But the recent news and humanitarian gesture shown by the Venezuelan President makes me appeal yet again to all and sundry not to forget the flood victims and continue to help them as long as they don’t get back to their homes. But it seems they would never find any home for them unless they beg or borrow to make a shelter for them.

The world still remembers Haiti flood victims, but no one seems to be caring for Pakistani flood victims as they feel that since their own government and people have abandoned them, why should they extend a helping hand. The credibility issue of the government made many not to open their coffers for the fears of its getting squandered and embezzled. In the end, the people and victims of the worst floods in the history of Pakistan are suffering. I wish Hugo Chavez was our president.

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Have we forgotten the flood victims?

Well the plain and painful answer is a big YES. When the floods came, the whole nation got united as we did in 2005 earthquake. A large scale relief effort was undertaken in every street and corner of the country. Truckloads were dispatched by ordinary people and NGOs while the government sat and watched. Had it not been for the massive relief operation undertaken by the army, the death toll would have been colossal.

After establishing the camps and sheltering them temporarily, everyone started to step back. Even the media that had raced to reach the flood hit areas before the other channel, has also new stories to make. Slowly and gradually the sympathies and concern for those poor 20 million people has subsided. Now everyone is worried about Wikileaks rather than those wretched people facing the severe winter cold right out there in the open, HELPLESSLY.

Although the NGOs and people of the country contributed more than the government and the governments, they can and should do more now when people are battling the general winter (as from Napoleonic age). The media also needs to play its part more effectively and bring to forth the sufferings of the people in the open rather than forgetting about the issue as we have forgotten the earthquake victims.

On the internet, we still find appeals for the donation of Haiti flood victims as they have not been forgotten. But we definitely seem to have forgotten these people. And perhaps we have also forgotten that of the 20 million affectees, six million are children. They need our help more than the elders.

Unfortunately due to the credibility issue of the present government, a general awareness in the donor countries could not be created about the sufferings and plight of the people. That is why except for initial immediately needed relief and help, the world too has forgotten these people. Nor the government, nor the media followed the donors and those who could help. The news channels after securing points on other channels by running EXCLUSIVE sliders, have found new stories to take advantage from.

I remember that during the times when Afghan refugees were here in Pakistan, although they are still here in numbers, the Saudi government sent plane loads of meat sacrificed at the Hajj for the Afghan refugees. This time there was no such gesture. The mood of the Saudi government after the release of Wikileaks could be the obvious reason.

It seems we have failed in our cause and pledge to help these poor people. We need to reinvigorate our efforts to help them as long as they are in tents and open. Instead of making model villages which will cost lot of money, we simply need to make houses for them rather than wasting money of building community centres and other facilities as money spent on these can be used for making more houses, which is the priority one. WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE than mere slogans and hollow reassurances. Let us just help them.

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Floods 2010 in retrospect

Although it is too early to review the recent flash floods that devastated the entire length of Pakistan astride River Indus, let me do it lest we forget that horrific calamity. We were caught off guard courtesy the Metrological Department which other than predicting heavy rains, failed to “analyze” the impact of those unprecedented rains and raise alarm as if hell was to let lose – which in fact finally did.

OK, I take their naivety for the reason that in their entire career, none of the officials would have ever encountered such heavy rains, so the rested well after issuing the onset of heavy rains like any routine news and information on various TV channels. Next comes our Disaster Management Authority, which was specially created after the 2005 Earthquake to deal with natural calamities and disasters of very high magnitude. The NDMA was all high and dry to deal with the situation. It the Chairman of NDMA awhile to confess on state TV that NDMA was only a monitoring authority and did not have any wherewithal to deal with any kind of calamity or disaster physically. It could at best monitor the scale of disaster after gathering reports from other agencies.

Both Met Department and NDMA absolved them of any discredit and “came out clean” of any blame game. As for the provincial governments, to start with the Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK), they were caught off guard and were baffled with the magnitude of the calamity as they did when earthquake hit the northern areas of Pakistan and KPK just five years ago. There were no tents, packed food, clothes, rations and other essentials for immediate dispatch to the flood hot areas.

So who could do it? Who to turn to when such calamities hit us? Army, who else!! So everyone sat back and let the army handle the rescue and relief operation. The entire local government machinery, government departments seemed paralyzed, rather perplexed. The so called public representatives of both national and provincial assemblies found refuge in their comfortable abodes, and even days after the muddy onslaught, hardly a few out of hundreds ever surfaced to come forward and render a helping hand. Those who did vanished after photo sessions or made headlines while riding on motorbikes.

After Army, it was the people of Pakistan, poor, rich and the philanthropists who gave and collected donations from their communities and sent whatever they could to the flood hit areas. But for the first few days, there was no organized body or government agency, other than the Army, to receive the relief goods and distribute among the devastated people.

The media did a good job in reporting the flood devastations, but every channel was trying to win the race by flashing slides “First reported by …..” Like elected representatives they also made their coverage a photo sessions. The lady reporters wore make up and gaudy attire when people around were in a mess and in muddy clothes. Instead of focusing on the relief efforts, they would people who would lament for not being helped at all, thus trying to white wash the efforts of those who were doing their best to embattle the monstrous floods ever.

For as long as the water did not reach the Arabian Sea, our TV channels were full of reports and footages of distressed people. But as water moved forward, so did the media, leaving the people of the previous areas to their fate and were forgotten. Now that the rivers have dried up of the muddy flood waters, so has the media dried up of any news about What Now??

It is sad to see that we do not have any follow up journalism in our country. Our media has found new news to report, the fuel price hike, the disappearance of sugar, discussions of fate of present government, considering of options and what not. Suddenly those 20 million people have been forgotten and left to themselves to live a new life from scratch. All claims of building houses and model villages have become echoes of the past. Except for issuance of Watan Cards, there is no news about the plight of the flood hit people and their rehabilitation. There are now reports that even the Watan Card holders have started to sell their cards (I do not who is buying these and why) to get some relief.

Any word from the government and the political parties? Not a word. No one talks of floods anymore. The government for obvious reasons of hiding its failure to address the issue, and political parties – they have other issues on their agenda. One party is Musharaff specific and is dying to put him on gallows, as if that is the only thing they should be concerned about. Others are too busy in finding additional benefits from the government or elsewhere. It is only those 20 million who remember the floods, it seems, as they suffered and continue to suffer God knows for how long.

I urge all and sundry to keep the tragedy alive and let us not forget those who suffered and lost their lifetime fortunes and possessions. Let us keep following their rehabilitation process through active monitoring and point out loopholes and weakness in the efforts by the federal and provincial governments so that corrective measures could be taken.

Let us just not forget those 20 million, please.

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Sanjh – Helping the flood victims in its own way

The recent floods have moved every heart in Pakistan and all over the world. While the philanthropists came forwards with everything they could afford, the ordinary people gave away their small but precious savings and the Army took over one of the biggest relief operations of its kind in recent times. The world community also came forwards to render a helping hand. Even individuals from China, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and many other countries came forwards donating generously to help the helpless. We as a nation are grateful to every heart that was moved by the sufferings of the devastated people.

Like everyone, the artists of Pakistan also came forward to share the grief of their brethren in distress. “Sanjh” is one such collective effort of artists with a caring heart who got together to raise funds for the flood victims through an innovative way. The initiative by Zahraa Assad Saifullah and Zahra Mirza of RetroArts in collaboration with Foaad Nizam of Danka, and Visual Artists, Imran, Sajjad and Usman have compiled a set of dozens of postcards carrying photos of paintings of volunteer artist. The funds so generated by the sale of these postcards will be used to help the needy at this time of their need.

The effort has been supplemented by the University of Gujrat which rendered every possible assistance in printing the post cards by allowing the use of their state of art printing facilities.

As for me, I am thankful to my friend Shirazi who introduced me to Mr Yaqoob of University of Gujrat, who has very graciously sent me this beautiful collection of post cards. At the same time I commend the efforts of Sanjh for helping the flood victims in its own way.

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Lamenting Scars of the Soul – A rejoinder

Sometime back, I narrated a real story that carried in itself the hidden cries of a young woman, Yasmeen (who once worked in our house as a maid), the cries she tried to hide. But there were times that when her anguish could be visibly seen and felt. She would invariably break down and cried in front of my wife. Although my wife would cajole her and try to comfort her, it was she alone who was to bear the grief and sorrow that befell on her and her family on 8 October 2005 – the day a powerful earthquake struck the northern areas of Pakistan. Her lamenting tale was but one of the many such heartbreaking realities that still echo in the valleys and villages where life is now returning to normal.

We had hardly recovered from the shock of that dreadful earthquake, that yet another calamity fell on us last July. Though far less deadly (in terms of human losses) than the earthquake, it is far more devastating in terms of damages to communication infrastructure, houses and buildings. Other than that, it has affected over 20 million people all along the length of the Pakistan from the north till the southern edge of the country at the mouth of the Arabian Sea. Of the over 20 million people that have their fragile houses washed away along with their lifelong possessions, are some six million children whose laughter has also been drowned in the ravaging muddy flood waters.

Recently I heard a story of a boy who saw his house crumble like a pack of card right in front of his eyes and then vanish forever. Riazuddin, a boy of around 10-111 had a one room house on the bank of Swat River before the July floods, where he lived with his parents happily. He played with other children of the area, threw pebbles in the river and brought water for domestic use. Life had been happy for him since he was born. Though very poor, he was happy like any other child, always hopeful of the future and had fewer expectations from life. He didn’t have many possessions as a child, but a bat and some other broken toys he collected from the garbage.

Then July 2010 came. There have been unusual rains and he along with other children bathed in the rains and made merry. But at the same time, the water in the river started to swell and rise. He heard his father saying that the river seems to be in floods. Then the otherwise clear water of the river started getting muddy and muddier with its level rising very rapidly. But no one had any idea how wicked it would turn into. Soon the water was touching the brims of its banks, but little Riaz’s one room house was still a few feet higher. The night came but the roar of the gushing water made everyone sleepless. From a friendly river since his childhood, the river had become monstrous. He along with his father went out and saw the foamy water was almost touching their door. Alarmed by this development, his father ordered everyone out and with all they could grab, they left the house and moved to the higher ground above their house. And then it happened. The water became more violent and soon Riaz’s house was inside the water and the very fast current pounding on all its sides. Right in front of his innocent eyes, suddenly his house gave in and crumbled like a pack of cards and in seconds was washed and eaten away by the river – leaving none of its traces back.

For Riaz, it was as if his best had been lost. A friend, who nurtured him, protected him and his family from weather hazards since he was born, and perhaps was his best childhood friend. With the house, his bat and broken toys were also washed away – leaving him nothing but the memories of the good days. Today, he lives in a tent village, hoping to get back one day, where his father may rebuild the house once again. But his toys will never come back. And he will remember the days before the floods and the flood day that took his dreams away.

This is just one story – there are countless stories of similar kinds buried in the hearts of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and husbands, who lost their near and dear ones. Though they continue to live on, the scars of the soul will never be healed for God knows how many years.

Related Reading: Lamenting scars of the soul

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Even if your waves touch my feet a million times….

Every time a natural calamity or a catastrophe hits the mankind, it leaves behind sorry heartbreaking tales of human sufferings and miseries that take a long time to heal. Pakistan had had hardly recovered from the devastations caused by one of the most severe earthquakes that hit Pakistan’s northern areas in 2005, that Nature struck again two months back with one of the deadliest and powerful floods that is still ravaging the lower parts of Pakistan. These unexpected and flash floods have displaced some 20 million people from north to south, which also includes six million children.

Although, the human losses are not much, some 1800 lives washed away into the cruel water waves, there are lamentations of children who have lost their parents, of parents who have lost their children, of elders of who have lost their young ones and of youngsters who have lost their elders. The scars are deep and tales of human loss will be many.

Yesterday I came across a post by my literary friend Syed Asghar Javed Shirazi (SAJS) whose one lined post sent a cold shiver in to my spine. The post describes a phrase written on sand by a small boy who lost his parents in the flood and reads, “Dear River, I will never forgive you; I will never forgive you, even if your waves touch my feet million times.” Although fictionist, it is the true reflection of the sentiments of a child, and all those children who experienced the similar loss.

Even other than the loss of one’s parents, the flood waters washed away innocence from those six million children who have seen their homes, possessions and streets being washed away. I remember I once had a small wooden box in my childhood which had all my “belongings” in it. My comics, a small photo albums, stamps, and other small possessions of a child. And whenever we had a fight among us siblings, I was threatened by my elder siblings that they would take control of the black box, and I used to give in just to save my possessions and the black box. And now I think of many such possessions belonging to these children that must have been lost forever in the ravaging flood waters - a loss that would have taken away all the childhood memories for ever. And here I am remembered of that famous dialogue of the epic movie “Gone with the Wind,” when it was said “An entire generation gone with the wind (or words similar to these).” In this case, “Entire childhood possessions, memories and relations washed away by the floods.”

The post also reminds me of a similar incident that I shared with my readers awhile ago (Lamenting scars of soul) regarding the loss of two little dolls of our maid in the earthquake of 2005. Although, years have passed, the scars on her soul may take a a lifetime to heal.

Times would pass; the displaced people will go back, rebuild their houses and start afresh. But lost relations and possessions will never come back. And even if the waves of the nearby flowing river touch the feet of those who suffered, will never be forgiven – never ever.

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A phrase written on sand by a small boy who lost his parents in the flood

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Originally posted at Jahojalal

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A noble gesture lost for personal glory

At this time of distress for Pakistan, the sympathy can be felt the world over. All countries have come forwards to share their grief and donate as much as they can in any form to help the poor people of rural Pakistan, who are facing the wrath of unexpected flash floods from Pakistan’s north to down south. In fact it is the entire length of Pakistan astride the Indus River that has been affected. And we are grateful to the world community for showing such a swift response to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.

Of all such noble gestures, NASDAQ was one of its own kinds. The giant screen in Time Square of New York is the hub of stock exchange news and it flashes news and shares round the clock and people take it as a routine to check up whenever they are a round as it is “there” with its shares related news all the time.

Feeling for the flood victims of Pakistan, recently NASDAQ offered a one hour time, i.e. from 5-6 pm (the peak activity time) to Pakistan Embassy to air a relief donation message. Mind you this is the first time in NASDAQ’s history to offer a free air time for anything other than business and shares. Even the Haiti disaster was not offered such a noble gesture. NASDAQ estimated that Pakistan could get at least a million dollar from this offer.

And you know what our Embassy did? And whatever they did shocked the NASDAQ and the people looking at the screen. The onlookers found two people in the foreground with the Pakistani flag in the background with a message “Welcome to New York from the Consulate General of Pakistan – MR R S A Babar Hashmi” – rather than a flood relief donation message whatsoever. While people on the street could not get the wisdom of NASDAQ for showing such a message, as they were unaware of NASDAQ’s nobility, the NASDAQ quickly withdrew the message from the screen and resumed its normal business related news. NASDAQ must have thought of having been fool to let the Pakistan Embassy waste its one hour’s air time. Couldn’t any sane person in the Pakistan Embassy take this offer seriously?

This incident involves two Pakistani diplomats Babar Hashmi and Amer who sacrificed a noble offer for their personal glory, thus sacrificing the woes of millions of flood hit Pakistani looking for help to go back and rebuilt their demolished and washed away houses. This indecent act calls for immediate recalling of these two envoys and putting them to trial by an anti terrorist court as their act falls under social terrorism, defamation of the good name of the country and subversion of a cause.

Unfortunately, no action seems to have been initiated against these two diplomats who are enjoying all diplomatic privileges due to their country and still did not have the iota of respect for the sufferings their fellow countrymen are facing and braving. Those ordinary Pakistanis who are contributing from their own pockets to help the flood victims are far more respectful than these two who are comfortable nested in New York with complete disregard to the woes of the country which handpicked them from many and sent to USA – a coveted foreign assignment for which every member of foreign office vies for.

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Donate for the flood victims of Pakistan

The news of flash floods that devastated almost half of Pakistan's villages and rural areas have spread all over the world. At present the flood water with a torrential speed of more than One Million cusecs is heading towards the lower half of Pakistan. This would displace more people and render many more homeless. So far about 15 million people have become homeless while leaving some 1500 dead. Of the 15 million so displaced, 6 million are children.

Pakistan alone cannot rehabilitate these children of lesser gods. So please come forward and contribute in to Pakistan Army Relief Fund. Pakistan Army is presently engaged in large scale flood relief operation throughout the country and need every penny that you may spare to help those under the still raining sky. 

Following are the account numbers for Pakistani Rupee and foreign currencies.

ROUTING - PAKISTANI RUPEE

All branches of ASKARI COMMERCIAL BANK IN PAKISTAN

ACCOUNT NUMBER 0028010121825-8

ROUTING - US DOLLAR

Please remit proceeds to JP MORGAN CILASE BANK,NEW YORK USA.SWIFT BIC CODE: CHASU33 for the credit of Askari Bank Limited, Karachi Branch, Account number: 001-1-1678273 SWIFT BIC CODE : ASCMPKKA for onward credit to Askari Bank Limited, GHQ Branch, Rawalpindi, Pakistan A/C # 28- FAVOURING

ROUTING - POUND STERLING

Please remit proceeds to : STANDARD CHARTERED BANK , 37 GRACE CHURCH STREET , LONDON, EC3V ORX , U.K. VIA SWIFT BIC CODE : SDBLGB2L for credit of Askari BAnk Limited , Karachi Branch Pound Sterling Account number : 01-249443401 SWIFT BIC CODE : ASCMPKKA for onward credit to Askari Bank Limited , GHQ Branch , Rawalpindi , Pakistan A/C # 28- FAVOURING

ROUNTING - EURO

Please remit proceeds to : DRESDNER BANK AG , CORPORATE AND INTERNATIONAL DIVISION, ASIA/ AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENT , FRANKFURT 60301 AM MAIN GERMANY for credit of Askari Bank Limited , Karachi Branch EURO Account number 812781500 SWIFT BIC CODE : ASCMPKKA for onward credit to : Askari Bank Limited , GHQ Branch Rawalpindi , Pakistan A/C # 28 FAVOURING

Major General Agha Farooq - Pakistan Army

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The devastating floods in Pakistan and the language of the “friends”

The devastating floods in Pakistan and the language of the “friends” 

Pakistan being a poor country, already paying a heavy price of the so called American War on Terror, finds it today utterly helpless to bear the wrath of nature. And for this the government requested the international community for help. And many came forward and have done their best to help the flood devastated Pakistan. But what about the friends? I mean the Americans for whom we are fighting a war in search of OBL and his squad. Time will tell the true story behind the War on Terror being a big game to loot and plunder Iraq and Afghanistan. But the comments by the Americans have shown the true face of common Americans, whom many in Pakistan believe to be friends. The language used in some 200 comments that I read today was most bizarre, inhuman and derogatory. Just falling short of naked abuses, the comments show the lowest of human esteem and sick mindset.

Many have opined that since Muslims profess that every good or bad thing comes from Allah, so why don’t the Pakistan ask their Allah for the wrong He has done to them rather than begging the American tax payers for the aid. A sizeable number asks of Pakistan to first hand over OBL before begging them for aid money. Another writes, “Pakistan created jihadi terror - 1st to kill Hindus, then to target Americans. Now's the time to finish off Pakistan - take advantage of the natural disaster. Pakistan is an enemy of civilization.” And many bring in religion to vent their hatred towards Muslims. Read this, “Once again the islamist call out to the christians for help , they hate the christians yet understand that even when reviled and beaten the christians will continue to help them out of love for our saviour. these floods are allah's will and a warning that the muslims will be judged for there crimes against humanity by the creator. yet in their arrogance the timid moslems say nothing and reap destruction from the had of God. the muslim holy war will bring world wide destruction , it is no religion of peace , but a religion of slavery - just ask their women (spelling mistakes have not been corrected).” Another comments, “They call for more aid now, when their "cousins" in the Taliban just beheaded ten western medical workers? Fine, Ham Sandwiches on the way!”

The venom is ceaseless “...So now we're going to RUSH billions more US dollars to a country that hates us? Let the floods wash every one of them away....flush that toilet.” Another joins in to comment, “Since Muslims believe that everything that happens is Allah's will perhaps they should look at what they have been doing to cause him to bring down this misery and disaster upon them. I do have that right don't I. That is what they believe, correct?” Here is another one, “Let them ask the Taliban for help and cash in their war with India! Surrender OBL and we MIGHT consider "some" cash.”. And here is one last, “Stop begging for money and stop having your countrymen trying to explode bombs in our cities and we'll leave you alone. We left you alone after the afghan-soviet war and look at the dung you people created. Why is the president going around the world begging? You elected him right? You elected your entire government right? Stop begging for money and we'll stop trying to 'fill your pockets.”

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