aiding or abetting?

Horror stories from all over the world  at the weekend. Earthquakes, mudslides. The worst hit country was Pakistan. The death toll is over 20,000. Will probably rise to 30,000. And maybe 50,000 people injured.

They have appealed for international help and Australia and the United States have responded quickly. More quickly that President George W. Bush responded to a natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina, in his own country.

I received an interesting e-mail overnight about Australian aid to Pakistan. I don’t  agree with it because the suffering in Pakistan is a nightmare and the suggestion is tantamount to blackmail. But I can understand the sentiment.

The e-mail says in part:

“I am not a radical and am certainly not mean spirited, BUT, I can feel a week of personal anger coming on.

Pakistan, India and Afghanistan have just experienced terrible earthquakes.

Tragically, thousands of innocent people will suffer.

Now let's watch OUR government give these countries OUR money in aid.

Well I for one have had enough!

These countries are responsible for hiding and giving succour to those terrorist bastards who are hell bent on killing OUR "innocent" people.  WE are having to spend millions on homeland security and uncounted millions in the search for these scum who are concealed under the skirts of these Nations.

Well lets set a few conditions here.  THEY hand over the terrorists and assist with their capture and in return WE may reconsider our aid position.  Until then we contribute NOTHING.”

As I said  I don’t agree. Humanitarian aid is just that. Humanitarian.  But I suspect a lot of people would agree with him.  Terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden and his senior henchmen have avoided capture for years while plotting more bloody assaults in Madrid and London. They have to be getting support and protection from somebody.

Monday, October 10, 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005