NPR poll: Americans favour Pakistan aid freeze
An astounding 99% of Americans want all forms of US financial aid to Pakistan – humanitarian, development and military – to be stopped, according to a poll conducted by National Public Radio, an American broadcaster.
NPR’s National Desk Senior Business News Editor Marilyn Geewax said that American sentiment had changed dramatically after Osama bin Laden had been found in Pakistan. She said that an average American believed that Pakistani officials had been aware of Bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad and had not done anything about it.
“They are bitter and remember the 3,000-plus lives that had been taken away in 9/11. They are not sympathetic anymore and it is difficult to convince them otherwise. Moreover, the US debt crises have called for drastic cutbacks. US citizens call for these cutbacks to include a halt to aid to Pakistan,” she said.
As upset as Americans are with Pakistan, they seem to be almost equally frustrated with their own government. Nearly 77% of Americans believe that decisions about fiscal matters in the United States – including the recent debate over the debt ceiling – was not made maturely.
A majority of listeners of NPR – which has an estimated weekly audience of 32 million – felt that the US Congress had been extremely ‘stupid’ in dealing with the situation. Most also described themselves as ‘fed up’ with their government.
The US Senate passed a deficit-reduction package topping $2 trillion on Tuesday, just hours before the nation could have run out of money to pay its bills. If the debt ceiling had not been increased before the end of Tuesday, Americans could have faced rapidly rising interest rates, a falling dollar and shakier financial markets, among other problems.
Almost 99% of Americans were critical of the fact that the government had let the matter go on for as long as it did, while a conclusion could have been reached much earlier.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2011.
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Americans get indoctrinated from an early age by their government and media. They also tend to be very insular and arrogant. So this is only to be expected from them. Remember this is the same country where 80% of people thought Iraq was responsible for 9/11! They will remain ignorant until their economy crumbles and they have to take dictation from China.
Pakistan is like the ghetto, its doomed there is no way back. It is one way only.
Is it the same Mirza Who writes in the end MIRZA FROM USA
or ONLY MIRZA FROM PAKISTAN
I Am A Pakistani And I Ask My Brethren, Are You All Frigging Mad? =P Without Aid, Pakistan's Economy Would Crumble ! If You Are Denying That, You Prolly Are An Idiot Who Has Never Ever Taken The Khuarri Of Ever Seeing The Conditions Of Your Country =P Most Civilian Aid? Given By US. China Just Says Stuff As Mentioned In One Of The Comment But It Has Never Ever Come Forth And Given Us FINANCIAL Help. And We Cannot Stand On Our Own Two Feet. -.- That Day Is Far. The Electricity I And You Are You Are Using Is A Result Of The Humanitarian Aid. And We Are Not Provided Electricity Because That Amongst Us People Dont Give A Damn About Bills, Ja Kay Free Meh Kunda Laga Late Hain =P
Pakistan Would Crumble Without US AID. Be More Cooperative. =P
@Cautious: I agree with you. Thanks for the explaination. The first steop for what your wrote is to come clean and start telling the truth. I write too much and wanted to cut down. Thanks, Regards,
Mirza
@Mizra
I beg to differ --- it's way beyond simply "coming clean" which would come across as superficial and just one more Pakistani lie -- it would require a fundamental change in Pakistan including identifying/punishing those responsible -- and finally taking action against the terrorist that have been using Pakistan as de facto sanctuary. We both know that's not going to happen.
@ malik "Islamaphobia !!!"
No, as some one said before on ET - it is "PAKISTANPHOBIA!!!" -This is the best opportunity for Pakistan to stand on its own feet.
About the aid, I have seen on most forums that Americans feel that the tax payers money is being given to Pakistan while they suffer joblessness, recession etc. The fools fail to realise that the amount being given is only around 2 digit billions while they are experiencing financial problems of around 2 digit trillions.
i as a pakistani..i welcome american people's decision...=D
one of the best thing that could happen to pakistan in this situation... scrapping off aid..!!
Foolish Americans, they spent and got a bad name where as Chinese didn't spent any and were kept above Himalayas.
Islamaphobia !!!
Well yes, just leave us alone, and stop every kind of aid!!
At least we can learn to stand on feet . We may hobble at first .In the long run we are bound to be firm.
The US Govt. is hiding a fact from its citizens. All that the aid in whatever form is hidden transferred to the ISI/Army who in return support and fund the same terrorists that are killing the American in Afghan. For so long most of the countries have tried to reason with Pakistan but have failed. Now China, their “all-weather friends” is on the receiving end. Like never before ISI has been summoned to Beijing.
this was inevitable !!