'US secrecy dispels drone legality myth'

Published on 3 Jan 2013 : The fact that the United States refuses to disclose information regarding the country's drone operations explodes Washington's myth that the drone strikes are both 'legal and necessary' says an analyst.

Pakistan flood victims still in camps

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on Feb 9, 2012 - Nearly six month since devastating floods destroyed tens of thousands of acres of land in Pakistan's Sindh area, thousands of farmers have been unable to return to their lands and are still living in relief camps.

Millions of dollars in aid was pledged to help, but a UK-based charity organisation said it was not satisfied with relief efforts made by the international community.

Pakistan: Neglected Millions of Sindh Floods

The 2010 floods in Pakistan displaced millions and were a major setback for the national economy. They affected vast areas mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh and took a toll of hundreds of lives. Despite the repeated statements from the government, no practical steps were taken to tackle the possibility of future floods and the consequence of this gross negligence is that floods are yet again wrecking havoc this year.

Unlike last year, the eye of the storm this year is Sindh where flood waters have razed in numerous villages and displaced millions. According toAsian Human Rights Commission, the loss of crops due to floods in Sindh is estimated to have caused 5.6 billion rupees in damages. The extent of inundation can be gauged from the fact that out of 23 districts of Sindh, 22 have been directly or indirectly affected by the deluge.

Aerial view of Shahdadpur, which has been inundated by widespread flooding. Image by Rajput Yasir, copyright Demotix (18/9/2011).

Lamenting the utter lack of efficiency on the part of the government to tackle the situation, the Human Rights Commission article states:

It is only now that the government is examining the conditions of the bunds and embankments which are only just, if at all, holding the flood waters at bay. In the meantime hundreds ofthousands of people are trapped due to the flooding of the roads and it is the women and children who are suffering the most due to the lack of safe drinking water, milk and food. As was seen in the last catastrophe the response from the government was very slow due to the lack of a proper relief system and resources.

Like last year, a number of social initiatives have been launched to help out the displaced flood affectees. Among these efforts is the one launched by Faisal Kapadiaand Dr Awab Alvi, two notable social activists and bloggers (and Global Voices authors).

Full Report - Global Voice | 21Sept 2011

Pakistan Flooded again!

Uploaded by hjmanan on Sep 11, 2011 - part of Pakistan hit by massive flooding.

The mythos of Obama and Osama.

With his death, Osama bin Laden's name and story will forever be correlated with that of Barack Obama.

Osama bin Laden's death will forever be linked with Obama's name [GALLO/GETTY]

Obama and Osama. Two names that will henceforth be coupled. The hunter, Obama, is leader of the most powerful and feared nation on earth.

Osama, the hunted, was leader of a borderless state – a non-state actor – and probably the most feared religio-political association of the modern world since the rise of the Ismaili Hashashin assassins between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Obama and Osama may rhyme, but that is not their only correlation.

The Pygmalion syndrome

A Pygmalion resides in both of them. They are, to an extent, sculptors. In turn, these two sculptors, Obama and Osama, are examples of how extraordinary men – when struck by the power of ideas, ideals and dreams, regardless of the cause – go on about sculpting their Galateas – their statues, dummies or puppets.

Each is in love with a statuesque vision, a set of ideals or dreams that they have sought to breathe life into. Otherwise, how can one explain why a man who could have nymphs, Bentleys, yachts, and everything money can buy opts for the "illusionary" – to paraphrase Marx – rewards of the hereafter?

Larbi Sadiki |  2 may 2011 :  read full post

Children and families face increasing challenges in aftermath of 2010 Pakistan floods.

unicef | February 07, 2011 - UNICEF's Malcolm Brabant reports on children and families in Pakistan who survived massive floods in 2010 but are at risk from harsh winter conditions.

Six months after floods devastated Pakistan, the situation remains desperate.

Seems to have been forgotten by the world, OIC included

unicef | January 28, 2011 - UNICEF correspondent Priyanka Pruthi reports on the desperate situation still facing children and women in Pakistan, six months after floods inundated one-fifth of its land mass.

Pakistan floods: Six months on in Sindh

ukdfid | January 26, 2011 - how the UK government is helping Pakistan? Has the promise by others reached Pakistan?

The scale of the flooding in Pakistan was unprecedented. Ten years of rain fell in one week, 20 million people were affected, 14 million needed immediate humanitarian assistance. At the height of the crisis the water spanned an area the size of England.

Six months on, the vast majority of people who were forced to flee from the floods have returned home. But many families have lost everything and the humanitarian challenge is shifting as people rejoin their communities.

Nato Official states Osama Bin Laden is in North Pakistan.

October 23, 2010 :

Pakistan flood: US rains down death as villagers starve.

The flooding crisis in Pakistan continues to grow as thousands flee the historic city of Thatta in Sind (Pic) after the Indus River broke a levee and flooded new areas.

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Activists from the Pakistan Fisher Folk are using their small boats to attempt to rescue stranded villagers, and take food and medical supplies to others who are cut off.

Their brave efforts stand in contrast to the US military that seem otherwise preoccupied—despite claiming that they are in the country to help ordinary people.

A US drone fired four missiles on two vehicles in the Shaidano Dand area of Kurram on Friday night.

At least six people are reported dead, but the toll is expected to rise as more villagers trapped under the rubble of a building are discovered.

Read more from socialist worker UK

Helen Thomas resigns: Anti-Israel opinion sinks US press legend.

RussiaToday — June 08, 2010 — "Jews should get out of Palestine" - That's the comment which looks to have ended the sparkling 50 year career of U.S. White House reporter Helen Thomas. Her outburst led to accusations of anti-semitism and forced her resignation. But U.S. filmmaker and blogger Danny Schechter told RT it's hypocritical of the American media to castigate one of its all-time greats.

Deadly suicide bomb attacks hit US consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan

Pakistani security officials examine a damaged 

military building next to the US consulate 

following a huge suicide bomb attack. [AFP]

Craig McMurtrie, Washington - 6 APRIL 2010.

United States authorities have condemned an attack on the American consulate in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.

Three security guards and four militants were killed near the heavily fortified complex in what police describe as a coordinated attack.

Al-Qaeda leader killed in US drone strike in Pakistan

Sun, 2010-02-21 03:23 — editor

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Pakistan correspondent

Peshawar, 21 February, (Asiantribune.com): 

A top al-Qaeda leader of Egyptian origin Sheikh Mansoor had been killed in suspected US drones strike in Toll Khel area two kilometer from Miranshah the agency headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan.

Official sources say the strike which was carried out on the 17th of February in TollKhel which also left a number of other important militants killed.

Pakistan in 2009 Battles Militants, Political Scandal.

U.S. President Barack Obama has made Pakistan a key part of his new strategy in Afghanistan. But as the U.S. and NATO battle Taliban militants in Afghanistan, Pakistan is facing its own challenges. Taliban insurgents have launched bomb attacks across the country. Meanwhile, a political scandal threatens to undermine the government of President Asif Ali Zardari. For VOA Correspondent Sean Maroney, Robert Raffaele narrates-