U.S. struggles with image in Pakistan

"After all, U.S. flood aid is a small portion of the billions of American dollars that have been shipped to Pakistan since the Sept 11, 2001"

sounding like an excuse compared to the money donated recently by individuals in other g8 countries...let alone governments and their invested interests

feel the hate

well they are

U.S. struggles with image just about everywhere on the planet....

@susano,

beat me to it.

Really, if someone were killing my neighbours and family members indiscriminately, I would probably be thinking the same way as the people of Pakistan. The end doesn't justify the means when it comes to killing women and children in their homes.

Now let's hear it from the war people...

Let's hear it from more informed peaple. Most citizens haven't a clue they receive billions. Most of the media blame every possible problem(even disasters) on "outside influences". There is barely an economy because the wealthy hide behind high walls, the rest live in poverty. The Pakistani military and intelligence service works behind the scenes to support terrorism(in surrounding countries) and their fixation is on what they think is the #1 threat India. The government is essentially powerless. In short. a totally disfuntional country.

I dont give a fart what pakistanis think of America. America has been giving 100`s of billions of dollas in aid to Pakistan over the years and for what?? To line the pockets of jihadists and crooks.

Yeah, well, America will continue to do good in the world, no matter what some ingrates say.

All that money, apparently, has done little to impress. A recent Pew Foundation poll found nearly six in 10 Pakistanis viewed the United States as an enemy; only one in 10 called it a partner.

In Japan we have similar experience with bad image in Asia, but in especial in Korea and China. Money like ODA can't buy public opinion. If they know that we have second intentions no one can call it "good intentions". Heck, in fact they know that the very moment you reach your goal, all the "help" is going to vanish or be reduced to the minimun, so "crafty" people can try to keep things going on forever.

Let's hear it from more informed peaple. Most citizens haven't a clue they receive billions.

Sure they do, they don't like the war going on next door and they don't like drones killing people in their country, that's all. You think the people are stupid and uninformed?

Pestronika: Yes

paulinusa at 11:16 AM JST - 4th September The Pakistani military and intelligence service works behind the scenes to support terrorism(in surrounding countries) and their fixation is on what they think is the #1 threat India. The government is essentially powerless. In short. a totally disfuntional country.

No they don't. Do a little reading Paulinusa. Pakistan was formed as a result of religious bigotry in India. A friend of mine was a girl in India at the time and she recalls being at a station when a train full of Muslims fleeing to Pakistan arrived... the doors opened and every single man, woman and child had been slaughtered by Hindu extremists. It was genocide on a par with what happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany, but you don't see any genocide museums or sympathy for the Muslims, and they don't ask for any.

That's the reason that Pakistan hates and distrusts India, because based on the evidence they'd happily kill every Muslim they could get their hands on. The discrimination and riots against Muslims continues to today, just watch Slumdog Millionaire, it's no secret, everyone just chooses to ignore it.

That's also the reason that the Pakistani people support a military and government that are antagonistic to India. It's called Democracy. If the people of a country want something they vote in leaders who carry out their wishes. Democracy has a dark side too, and that's that the people get the leaders they wish for. Just look at George Bush.

As for the U.S. "War", it isn't a war at all, war was never declared, so the Geneva convention doesn't apply and basically the U.S. is acting illegally, and can commit as many human rights violations as they like... and they have. Every few months you see reports of them killing off some wedding party, because they assume that any gathering of more than a few people is a Taliban uprising. It's ridiculous that people can't even get together in their own country for a party without getting a drone crashing in and killing everyone. That's why the Pakistanis hate the U.S., and it's going to take a LOT more than money to solve the problem. For one they could start acting less like petty tyrants and murderers, and more like people. Right now my opinion of the U.S. military is that the world would be a better place if the entire thing was disbanded, because in the last 4 decades it's caused tens of millions of civilian deaths.. and never actually declared war once.

Makes you think doesn't it, when a country is afraid to declare war and subject itself to the Geneva convention. It pretty much says, "We're going to commit war crimes and don't want to face up to the consequences of our actions.".

PaulinUSA,

I invite you to go and read a little more about them before you insult them all. Google Pakistan discussion boards. I know you probably won't, but it might change your mind as to the kind of people you are badgering.

This is an example of someone in Pakistan, posting on a board, just like JT. Listen to the stupid and uninformed people talking:

We have to help ourselves with the grace of ALLAH.But we don't need these so corrupt polititions & rullers for that.They don't have any credibility,respect & worth in the eyes of international community to trust them.Even abroad living Pakistani community by at large are doubting them.They are having just a big Mouth to talk to announce raising funds etc.Did any of the sensible people of Pakistan can ask them that what is their own contribution in that?.They have plundered this nation & kept them poor.Their own assets/wealth is lying abroad which they have got it by hook & crook.Can the Zardari,Nawaz Shareef,Gillani etc atleast bring back theur assets abroad to even invest here?So that we know how loyal they are with their Nation.

http://www.forumpakistan.com/no-country-can-deal-with-calamity-of-this-proportion-alone-t58047.html

I think they understand their own situation much, much better than you.

@Frungy

Totally agree.

"the thinking of most Pakistanis" now that's an oxymoron if there ever was one....

"No they don't. Do a little reading Paulinusa"

Frungy:"No they don't." what? I know the history of Pakistan/India well. Can you refute any of my statements? I don't think you know what the current situation is in Pakistan. This is a country teetering on collapse. Look at the headlines at this moment about terrorist bombings on JapanToday. Pakistan can't or won't admit that they are to blame for almost all their problems. The military and the ISI(secret service) have more power than the president. Democracy? I wouldn't go that far. In a country of 170 mil. they have far more things to worry about than drones dropping bombs in far away mountains. Do some reading on the relationship between the ISI and the Taliban. And by the way, some in Pakistan have suggested that India caused the floods and even that they suspected the US manipulated the weather.

Here is something to read. The title is: "U.S. Is a Top Villain in Pakistan's Conspiracy Talk" and it's pretty shocking.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/world/asia/26pstan.html

Yeah, well, America will continue to do good in the world, no matter what some ingrates say.

You make it sound as if America can do no wrong.

Pakistan struggles with is it's image... well, nowhere? Huh?

Read the last five paragraphs and then work backwards. Shazaam! Different story.

If the US diplomats expect any kind of gratitude from muslim clerics in Pakistan for the aid, they are tragically mistaken.

Pakistan was formed as a result of religious bigotry in India. A friend of mine was a girl in India at the time and she recalls being at a station when a train full of Muslims fleeing to Pakistan arrived... the doors opened and every single man, woman and child had been slaughtered by Hindu extremists. It was genocide on a par with what happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany, but you don't see any genocide museums or sympathy for the Muslims, and they don't ask for any.

Yeah but look further back and you'll find that Muslims killed many Hindus when Islam first came into India as well. I'm not justifying what happened to your friend. But I also think you have to judge the whole event rather than the small part you mention.

Headline says "U.S struggles with image in Pakistan". Also about 150 other countries i may add.

And by the way, some in Pakistan have suggested that India caused the floods and even that they suspected the US manipulated the weather.

Ah, "some". The ultimate weasel word. You will always find "some" who suggest or believe anything, as evidenced by your postings.

paulinusa at 11:16 AM JST - 4th September

I agree. Perfect.

PeaceWarrior at 01:15 PM JST - 4th September I think they understand their own situation much, much better than you.

Is this the reason they are always crying against their self elected govt.?

Frungy at 01:08 PM JST - 4th September. Pakistan was formed as a result of religious bigotry......but you don't see any genocide museums or sympathy for the Muslims, and they don't ask for any.

You mentioned only the single side of the coin! Didnt you? People know the history well. And even now, check whats happening in Pakistan as mentioned by paulinusa at 01:48 PM JST - 4th September. If possible tell us why majority of people thinks "terrorism" when they heard something about islam?

some in Pakistan have suggested that India caused the floods and even that they suspected the US manipulated the weather.

LOL! Ohh these people.

My honest suggestion, US should stop spoon feeding Pakistan. Nothing like this gonna work.

Pestronika: Here is something else to read. Notice it reads: "SOME reports.."

A group of Pakistani people have began a campaign blaming India, the US and Afghanistan for floods. They are getting huge supports from Pakistani media which help them appearing in the news head-lines. The reports claimed that Indian government had deliberately diverted waters from dams in Jammu and Kashmir and from the ones it controlled in Afghanistan. Some reports also claimed that the US was manipulating weather patterns of Pakistan. Both the Indian and US government dismissed the idea with incredulity.

This isn't a news article, it's an opinionated commentary.

@stevecpfc spot on there...american foreign policy over many decades has created many problems in many areas of the world..some of which are still ongoing.so pakistan doesnt like the us..take a ticket and join the queue.

The U.S. reputation in a country the Obama administration sees as crucial to defeating the Taliban and al-Qaida already is so tarnished that even millions of dollars from Washington and the work of U.S. soldiers and diplomats probably will do little to change the thinking of most Pakistanis.

Money does not buy happiness or the heart of the people. Just because one have money to throw around does not mean it will bear good fruits.

The world is wiser toward the U.S. and her foreign policy when it concerned them.

"Many in Pakistan see the United States as interested more in killing insurgents than in helping the country’s poor. Past U.S. support for former Gen Pervez Musharraf and other military rulers has fueled a perception that Washington cares little about Pakistan’s democracy."

.

That's actually pretty accurate. Anybody gonna dispute that?

How about a related article "Pakistan struggles with image in US".

And it is funny how eveyone hates the US but wants to live there.

The USA wouldn't have to worry about its "image" if it were more genuine in the first place. Pakistanis aren't interested in, or convinced by, our professionally-crafted "image of the week".

OMG, I am so worried about the USA image in Pakistan?? The land of lets give the Taliban a place to hide, the land of your kind of Islam is just a bit different from mine so let me shoot you up and blow your kind of Islam out of the water?? These guys are at each others throats night and day, I do not think the USA has to struggle about their image and just get the job done, keep up the drones, find out the terrorists where ever they are hiding and keep picking them off before they board another airplane or bus and blow themselves up.