General Musharaf….

..the Pakistani dictator (no he’s not the fucking president Mr Blair in the absence of free elections and all, and has nuclear weapons so why don’t we attack him, not the hapless Iranians, but I forgot, YOU like him, so that’s okay - - - I digress)

Recently complained about a lack of aid coming to his country, following the earthquakes in Kashmir. He said it was due to a lack of tourists and contrasted this disaster with the tsunami. Well there’s some truth in that, but other factors are;

Tsunami was over last Xmas, so no other news, so 24 hour TV coverage for about 9 days, ergo bigger impact, and more chillingly:

BBC news last Wednesday, story 1, lack of response to the appeal, story 2, three Brits of Pakistani descent arrested for conspiracy to cause explosions, story 3, three Pakistani men killed this other guy for getting their sister/daughter pregnant. Now this doesn’t justify it, but I wonder if some people are thinking “Christ these people are bombers and savages in our midst, why should we help them?” (Again, not my view, but I wonder if there is that feeling?)

Last point, despite all the great Satan bullshit you hear about the English speaking West, guess who the top two cash aid donors are to Pakistan?

United States
Britain

The gulf states have pledged loads, but have a habit of big public gestures then forgetting to actually send the aid when the news has gone away. And the other Muslim nations ? All very pious and condemnatory of the West, but in reality, where are they ?