Kerry will be the highest ranking US official to visit Pakistan since the flood

[karynnj]

The devastation of the floods has the potential to destabilize Pakistan which will make a difficult area far worse.

The United States has said that Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry's visit to flood-ravaged Pakistan next week would help raise the level of international response to the disaster.

Kerry, who is the co-architect of a multi-year 7.5 billion dollar aid measure for Pakistan, will be the first senior US policymaker to visit the country since the disaster, which has claimed of over 1600 people and affected up to 15 million people.

"This will be a critical visit to help raise the profile among publics both in the US and internationally," The Dawn quoted Dan Feldman, US Deputy Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, as saying.

He further said that the trip marks a "continuing US commitment to the South Asian country".

http://sify.com/news/us-says-kerry-s-pak-visit-will-propel-international-response-to-floods-news-international-kioq4cibfhi.html

(a similar APF article - http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iP40Cq-OWDBXH6vVCZ7KicHTDazw )

This article speaks of Kerry's trip and his comments on his goals - he also speaks of the International donor's conference that Hillary Clinton and Holbrooke will attend at the UN this Thursday.

Senator John Kerry, who heads the Foreign Relations Committee and co-authored a major multi-year $7.5 billion aid bill for Pakistan, said the United States has immediately accepted Islamabad's proposal for the international meeting, which is due to take place on Thursday.

<snip>
“Secretary (of State) Hillary Clinton has quickly accepted to be there in person as will (Special Representative) Ambassador (Richard) Holbrooke, and they are going to try to rally other people to the cause,” Kerry said.

<snip>
“My visit is really also geared to try to raise the understanding that this is not just about floods, not just about displaced people and the misery that comes with this, which is critical, but it is really about Pakistan's ability to move forward (economically) and to survive the difficult situation,” he elaborated, citing the challenges the country was already confronting because of its “stressed economy
<snip>
“The United States is clearly committed to the people of Pakistan in terms of (dealing with) the disaster. No question about that. That is why we have already committed $ 76 million, that is why (US) helicopters have already resuced some 3000 people, supplies have been delivered, half a million meals have been provided. All of these are very direct efforts,” Kerry noted.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-senator-kerry-to-visit-pakistans-flood-affected-areas-ss-06

Part of why Kerry is going appears to be that they will try to re-calibrate the non-military aid plan, Kerry/Lugar/Berman. It was Kerry, Biden and Hagel, seeing the goodwill generated by the US helping when their was an earthquake that led to the ideas behind that bill.

Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will visit Pakistan next week to assess the damage caused by the devastating floods--the worst in more than eight decades to have hit that country. He will be the highest-level American political figure to visit Pakistan since the floods hit last month.

State Department officials said Thursday Senator Kerry's visit would help raise awareness of Pakistan's relief needs among Americans, and to discuss how the Kerry-Lugar-Berman aid plan could be re-calibrated to factor flood-related needs.

Kerry co-sponsored the five-year $7.5-billion civilian aid program to Pakistan, approved by Congress last year, to shore up the impoverished country's tottering economy. The aid is conditional on assistance by Pakistan in fighting the Taliban.
<snip>
The United States has sent scores of civilian and military relief workers and experts to Pakistan, and, Thursday, it announced USD 16.25 million more as humanitarian aid, bringing the total of Washington's flood aid to Pakistan to more than USD 71 million in less than a week.

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/Policy.aspx?Id=1392605

[karynnj]

1. More information -

President Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed the visit of UN Secretary General to Pakistan on Saturday August 14 as well as the forthcoming visit of US Senator John Kerry on August to Pakistan to express support and solidarity with the flood affected people.

Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the President has welcomed these visits to the country saying that the colossal damage to life, property, livestock and infrastructure was so huge that it could be faced only with the concerted efforts of all the people of Pakistan with the support and assistance of the international community.

The President also thanked the foreign governments and international bodies which have announced assistance for flood relief and rehabilitation. During the recent visit of the President four countries namely UAE, Syria, France and UK also announced assistance in flood relief and rehabilitation operations, he said. We will mobilise the people internally and sensitize the international community to help the misery stricken victims of floods, the spokesperson quoted the President as saying.

(date removed as it was in no other article )

[karynnj]

2. kick

[ProSense]

3. Thanks for posting this. It's a horrific disaster. Here

is a diary a Daily Kos: Pakistan still needs help; lots of it. Floods displace 20+ Million

There are photos of the devastation.

Kudos to Senator Kerry for representing the U.S. and showing that Americans care.

[wisteria]

4. It is about time this situation is getting some attenion. I wonder if Senator Kerry had to initiate

any of it?

[karynnj]

8. The US military was helping almost from the start

President Obama and VP Biden both long ago agree with the concept that the ways to actually have a chance at change was to change opinions of us by actually helping people. I assume that it was straight from the top - President Obama, who asked the military to see what role they could play. My only surprise is that Holbrooke, who I think is the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan was nowhere to be seen in the last week. (Now, I'm biased enough to think Kerry makes a better representative, but I am surprised that the man, who was suppose to be the top career diplomat needed Kerry to step in Afghanistan and now Kerry seems to be the one in Pakistan.

[blm]

9. Holbrooke has been terrible on the ground in that region. Kerry has had to step in a number of

times. He's considered the honest broker. Other notables are not considered honest brokers to Pakistani leaders based on their history of supporting Bush's military decisions that led to much of the instability.

[karynnj]

10. Holbrooke actually praised Kerry's personal diplomacy

and the committee's Kerry/Lugar/Biden bill.

It does make sense if Kerry is the one with the best relationship to people in the area that they send him. (It's interesting that Kerry also seems to have a good relationship with India's leader.)

[blm]

11. I think it's because Kerry goes into these meetings seeking the best solution for ALL

and especially the people. Others go in with the best interests of the financial elite and that has had horrific results. Pakistan was very much a key part of BCCIs criminal matters - the crooks involved in protecting BCCI's guilty got the results they expected on 9-11.

[NC_Nurse]

5. Good for him. He is one of the few Senators I always respect.

[ProSense]

6. NYT: Floods Could Have Lasting Impact for Pakistan

Floods Could Have Lasting Impact for Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan — Even as the government and international relief workers struggle to get food and clean water to millions of Pakistanis devastated by floods, concerns are growing about the enduring toll of the disaster on the nation’s overall economy, food supply and political stability.

More rains battered the country Monday, adding to the worst flooding in memory and confronting Pakistan with a complex array of challenges, government and relief officials warned. Though they ranged over the immediate, medium and long term, nearly all needed to be addressed urgently for Pakistan to avoid lasting calamity.

Providing clean water for millions and avoiding the spread of diseases like cholera was the first priority. But there were also looming food shortages and price spikes, even in cities, and the danger that farmers would miss the fall planting season, raising the prospect of a new cycle of shortfalls next year in a country that produces much of its own food.

<...>

It is a worry both for the government and its foreign allies. The regions suffering most from the crisis are far more likely to breed militancy, according to study by the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute. It found that the 20 districts with the worst food insecurity were also home to the worst militancy. In many of those places, hard-line Islamic charities have stepped into the breach.

<...>

Reminds me of this piece by Kerry: We Can’t Ignore The Security Threat From Climate Change

[karynnj]

7. Every story I've heard describes greater devastation

The Kerry op-ed is a very nice find - I remember the 2007 hearing where those dangers were discussed. It is absolutely devastating to me that the Senate could not find 60 votes - in spite of having a bill that created jobs, cut the deficit and was projected to cut emissions by 17%. I don't know how the Republicans (and Democrats) who really know better can sleep at night. Many actually sponsored cap and trade plans in the past.

[blm]

12. the consequences of this flood will be horrific for the entire world....soon...and most people

haven't a clue. Pakistan's government and Pakistan's nukes will be more vulnerable than at any point EVER. If the Taliban and Al Qaeda act quicker than the rest of the world than this world is in HUGE trouble.