Pakistan's Tears

It only makes tragic sense that the area so affected by modern terrorism, fruitless unending wars, and ethnic violence -- Pakistan -- would be home of a gigantic environmental disaster.

And as ever, we are either ignoring it or complete misunderstanding it.

As people go without access to clean drinking water and basic health services, deadly cholera outbreaks can spread quickly. Other cases are suspected among the tens of thousands of people suffering from diarrhea and fever.

Revising an earlier official estimate that 14 million people had been affected by the floods, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani said Saturday that 20 million -- nearly 12 percent of the population -- had been displaced.

At this point the death toll is estimated to be just under 2,000 people, but with so many people displaced and so little relief a huge cholera outbreak is imminent.

But, hey, priorities, right Washington Post?

With the Pakistani army taking the most prominent role in the government's relief efforts, concern has grown in Washington that the flood will detract from the country's battle against Islamic militants.

Hard to believe there's ever any resentment of the United States, right Villagers?

Various relief organizations can be found here.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]