Response to Edward

Submitted by Jaladhi (United States), Oct 19, 2005 at 12:10

We understand very well the "fundamentals of what is going on". We do not need any preaching from anybody about it. Also, we wonder where you get your facts!

First the the aid to tsunami victims: The total global aid pledged to help the victims was about 4 Billion dollars out of which the US govt. and private aid (Red Cross and other agencies) accounted for more than 2 Billion dollars. Compare this to a total of about 100 Million dollars pledged by all of oil rich Gulf countries, about 2.5% of the total aid. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had pledged a measly 10 to 20 Million dollars each which in everybody's book is even less than "peanuts". Saudis later increased the amount in face of bad publicity but it was nowhere near US assistance. Consider this, the workers in these Gulf countries come mostly from the countries worst hit by tsunami, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka etc. Without these workers the economy of these Gulf countries will not run and when the families of these workers were devasted by this natural disaster, these Gulf countries were not in the fore front to help them. Even several Arab news/TV media bemoaned this fact that "now Arabs have failed miserably even in humanitarian efforts". You can check this out yourself by googling this information on the net.

As for the earthquake relief to Pakistan, President Bush had immediately offered 6 helicopters and not 3 as you claim. As of Oct. 12, eight US helicopters were flying mercy missions in the quake region and 20 more copters were on the way. In addition, a US navy ship with heavy earthmoving equipment, bull dozers etc has already arrived in Pakistan to help in the quake hit region. No doubt the US aid to Pakistan will definitely far exceed 133 Million dollars announced by Saudi Arabia. Of course the Saudis have to rush to the Pak-occupied Kashmir region where the jihadi madrassas and the foreign jihadis(a large number of these may be Saudis) have perished.

It is no secret that US has given Pakistan more than 1 Billion dollars in aid since 9/11 to fight against the terrorists and still Bin Laden and Zawahiri are roaming free in Pakistan. Every time, a semi senior commander of terrorists is captured, Pak President is in Washington to get an atta-boy and 100 to 200 Million dollars in aid. Has this aid filtered down to common man on the street who is always demonstrating a against USA?

The numbers speak for themselves and need no defence from anybody.

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