U.S. response to killer floods in Pakistan timely, necessary

The United States is in a battle with Islamic militant activists in Pakistan, but this one doesn’t involve guns and other weapons of death and destruction. Rather, the clash is over winning the hearts and minds of the victims of devastating floods that have claimed more than 1,500 lives, left thousands homeless and affected millions.

The disaster gives the Obama administration the opening it has needed to turn public opinion in Pakistan in favor of the U.S. Despite the fact that billions of dollars in aid to hunt down Osama bin Laden and destroy his al-Qaida terrorist organization have been provided since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America’s mainland, Pakistanis don’t consider America a friend.

That’s because they either do not realize that dollars have been pouring into their country, or they view the financial support as nothing more than an attempt to win support for the war against Islamic extremists, such as al-Qaida and the Taliban.

A Pew Foundation poll released recently found that six in 10 Pakistanis view the U.S. as the enemy and only one in 10 call it a partner. Nearly two-thirds said they want American troops out of Afghanistan.

As for the financial aid sent to Pakistan, which is America’s chief ally in the war on global terrorism, a quarter of those polled said the U.S. provides a lot of assistance. A quarter said just a little aid has been given, 10 percent said the U.S. hardly sends any, while 16 percent said no aid at all is given.

From the outset of the war on terrorism that began with the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan nine years ago, we have urged a campaign to win the hearts and minds of the people in the region. Afghanistan, which was ruled by the Taliban, had given Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida organization safe haven. It was in Afghanistan that the Sept. 11 attacks were planned.

But because Pakistan, which is a Muslim country, has nuclear weapons, the U.S. and its allies have made a concerted effort to prevent Islamic extremists from taking over the country.

But it has not been easy, which is why the devastating floods are an opportunity that the coalition partners must not pass up.

“We’ve been working hard over the past year to build a partnership with the people of Pakistan, and this is an essential element of partnership reaching out and helping each other in times of need,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as U.S. Air Force cargo planes landed in the city of Rawalpindi with food packages.

Emergency assistance

Clinton said the administration has pledged $10 million in emergency assistance. But given the extent of the devastation in the northwest region of the country and the need for clean water and shelter for the thousands of victims, the overall aid package will have to be expanded.

While there is no quid pro quo involved in this humanitarian effort, the administration should find a way of letting it be known that the American people are generous when it comes to helping those in need.

The Pakistani government, which has benefited greatly from U.S. funding, should take the lead in letting the victims of the floods and the rest of the population know that the Obama administration is ready, willing and able to do whatever is necessary to end the suffering of the people of Pakistan. These are people whose lives are difficult and challenging under normal conditions. They deserve our help.