Robert Reich: Why The Unfolding Disaster in Pakistan Should Concern You

[flpoljunkie]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's suggestion to help Pakistan: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/flpoljunkie/375

Why The Unfolding Disaster in Pakistan Should Concern You

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010

The human tragedy unfolding in Pakistan right now demands our full attention.

Flooding there has already stranded 20 million people, more than 10 percent of the population. A fifth of the nation is underwater. More than 3.5 million children are in imminent danger of contracting cholera and acute diarrhea; millions more are in danger of starving if they don’t get help soon. More than 1,500 have already been killed by the floods.

This is a human disaster.

It’s also a frightening opening for the Taliban.

Yet so far only a trickle of aid has gotten through. As of today (Thursday), the U.S. has pledged $150 million, along with 12 helicopters to take food and material to the victims. (Other rich nations have offered even less – the U.K., $48.5 million; Japan, $10 million, and France, a measly $1 million. Today (Thursday), Hillary Clinton is speaking at the UN, seeking more.)

This is bizarre and shameful. We’re spending over $100 billion this year on military maneuvers to defeat the Taliban in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Over 200 helicopters are deployed in that effort. And we’re spending $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan.

More must be done for flood victims, immediately.

Beyond helping to prevent mass disease and starvation we’ll also need to help Pakistan rebuild. Half of the nation’s people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, and a large portion of the nation’s crops and agricultural land have been destroyed. Roads, bridges, railways, and irrigation systems have been wiped out.

Last year, Congress agreed to a $7.5 billion civilian aid package to Pakistan to build roads, bridges, and schools. That should be quadrupled.

While they’re at it, Congress should remove all tariffs on textiles and clothing from Pakistan. Textiles and clothing are half Pakistan’s exports. More than half of all Pakistanis are employed growing cotton, weaving it into cloth, or cutting and sewing it into clothing. In the months and years ahead, Pakistan will have to rely ever more on these exports.

Yet we impose a 17 percent tariff on textiles and clothing from Pakistan. If we removed it, Pakistan’s exports would surge $5 billion annually. That would boost the wages of millions there.

That tariff also artificially raises the price of the clothing and textiles you and I buy. How many American jobs do we protect by this absurdity? Almost none. Instead, we’ve been importing more textiles and clothing from China and other East Asian nations. China subsidizes its exports with an artificially-low currency.

If you’re not moved by the scale of the disaster and its aftermath, consider that our future security is inextricably bound up with the future for Pakistan. Of 175 million Pakistanis, some 100 million are under age 25. In the years ahead they’ll either opt for gainful employment or, in its absence, may choose Islamic extremism.

We are already in a war for their hearts and minds, as well as those of young people throughout the Muslim world.

Right now, Islamic insurgents are using the chaos as an opportunity, attacking police posts in Pakistan’s northwest while police have been occupied in rescue and relief work. Meanwhile, lacking help and losing hope, many Pakistanis are becoming increasingly hostile toward President Asif Ali Zardari.

And, of course, Pakistan has the bomb.

What can you do? Government efforts are important but so is private giving. Check the New York Times’s Lede blog* for organizations providing disaster relief. The Oxfam website has lots of good information about who’s doing what, and how effectively.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/pakistan-flood-disaster-relief-how-to-help/?ref=asia

http://robertreich.org/post/978427354/why-the-unfolding-disaster-in-pakistan-should-concern

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. $7.5 billion civilian aid package to Pakistan to build roads, bridges, and schools.

That should be quadrupled.


So, let me see if I have this correct. Reich points out that we spend 2 billion in military aid each year to Pakistan plus Congress agreed to a 7.5 billion dollar civilian aid program last year and now we toss another 100 million on the pile. Reich believes that we should quadruple the 7.5 billion dollar aid package. I total that to 32.1 billion dollars that Reich wants to give to the Pakistanis. Just to be clear, 32.1 billion dollars is a bit over thirty-two THOUSAND MILLION dollars.

Reich's depiction of our position reminds me of a shakedown. Pay me or I will do horrible things. Here's an idea! We'll give you the money if you give up the bomb or give up A.Q. Kahn and his network or SOMETHING!

I actually believe that Reich's article displays the insulation from reality common to many modern day pundits. Reich is a millionaire and does not go to bed each night worrying how to feed his family nor does he worry about losing his job. To him, 32 billion dollars is a smart investment to protect HIS money, his world and his America. For the millions of Americans sliding into despair and poverty that amount of money could go very far.

Lastly, there is ZERO assurance from the likes of Reich that our money will not be used to further destabilize the region, fund extremists and build more bombs.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Reich is very much attuned to the needs of middle Americans. You should read more of his stuff.

He's right about this, too.

[MikeW]

4. here's a shocker for you

WITH WHAT MONEY? WERE BROKE !!!!!

The Chinese just called .... our last check bounced.

[flpoljunkie]

5. The United States just pledged $150 million aid to Pakistan. Did you feel this way about Haiti?

The people of Pakistan are suffering. One-fifth of the country is under water.

Do you not understand that?

[MikeW]

6. the US cant finance the entire world ... disaster or no disaster let the UN do it

[timo]

7. sadly

we finance a major portion of the u.n. too, why isnt the uae dumping some mega oil money into that region?

[Raven]

3. Absolutely agree with you. n/t