US stresses aid to Pakistan, eyeing improved image

[شمله ور خراساني]

By ROBERT BURNS (AP) – 23 hours ago WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is stepping up emergency relief for victims of Pakistan's devastating floods, hoping generous aid will soften anti-American attitudes in a country seen as vital to defeating al-Qaida.
A Pew Foundation poll released last week found that nearly six in 10 Pakistanis view the United States as an enemy and only one in 10 call it a partner. Nearly two-thirds said they want American troops out of Afghanistan.
U.S. officials believe a major humanitarian response to a deadly 2005 earthquake in Pakistan boosted the U.S. image there, at least temporarily.
With the earlier experience in mind, the administration is trumpeting its contributions in the wake of the worst flooding in Pakistan in many years. Floodwaters have killed more than 1,500 people.


Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[Catya Sher]

I thought this too when I saw a Yahoo news headline about the aid being sent.
The gesture rings very hollow, for if the US really cares, its behavior would be so different in the region.
This is the usual Band-Aid help. Too much fanfare to be taken as a sign of REAL caring about those afflicted.
I don't like the narcissism: why wouldn't an article cover ALL the help that is being sent and examine what remains to be done to alleviate the plight of the flood victims if it were to give real news of the situation. Rather than headlines like "U.S. rushes help over" as if it were the beneficent savior rushing to the rescue.

If the poll conducted gave those numbers, one can be sure there is even less support for America in reality. I bet at least four fifths want the U.S and all Western forces out of Afghanistan. Maybe more. But I doubt a Western sponsored poll will honestly report the real figures fairly and objectively.

[khyaal]

I don't think this will in any way change US image. Look! Pakistanis are an inveterate beggars and only a few million or billion dollars of charity won't change their attitude they will only get pleased when all of the US wealth is handed over to them. lol

[شمله ور خراساني]

I don't think this will in any way change US image. Look! Pakistanis are an inveterate beggars and only a few million or billion dollars of charity won't change their attitude they will only get pleased when all of the US wealth is handed over to them. lol

who said that there will be large amount of aid of any significance?

BTW: you aren't a Pakistani too? Aren't you begging Americans to stay in Afghanistan and kill off more Muslims?

The point is, this whole aid thing is a political scheme. Nobody will be helped. Its just for the images on TV.