US troops on flood relief detail in battle against prejudice (Feature)

By Sajjad Malik Aug 26, 2010, 8:51 GMT

Ghazi Aviation Base, Pakistan - Lieutenant Colonel Joe Allegretti, public affairs officer at Ghazi air base, is anxiously waiting for the weather to clear for a fleet of 15 US helicopters to fly emergency relief to Pakistan's north-western Swat region.

He expects the success of the mission will make a significant difference in public perception of the role of the US in Pakistan, where anti-US sentiments run high.

The bad weather is making his job more difficult.

'I want you to go up there; it is important, but we cannot do much about weather,' Allegretti told a group of journalists who had made the drive up from Islamabad, one and a half hours away.

Inside the VIP lounge a number of US pilots are itching to get going, aware of the importance of their mission, not just for the Pakistanis affected by the floods, but also for Washington's role in the region.

The floods have provided a unique opportunity for the United States to improve its image by helping hundreds of thousands of people.

'The day we flew here on August 2 to evacuate people and provide relief supplies, I told my colleagues that we are here on a life-changing mission,' Major Kevin Duffy said.

From Ghazi Aviation Base in the north-western province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, worst hit by both the Islamic militancy and the floods, over 250 US marines and navy personnel are flying life-saving supplies to Swat, where some areas are still not accessible by road.

The US helicopters and C-130 aircraft have made hundreds of sorties to the Kalam and Rubicon valleys, delivering hundreds of tons of supplies.

Many of the soldiers helping are aware that their work can help to improve the way their country is seen in Pakistan, which is important to win the war on terror and successfully wind up the mission in Afghanistan.

Colonel Tod Onedo arrived on August 12 and since then has been busy flying relief trips. He had the opportunity to see the entire range of devastation as he flew his chopper from the southern port city of Karachi to Ghazi.

'It was pretty sobering to see the destruction while flying from Karachi to this place. We saw vast areas under water,' he said.

Out on the sprawling base at least 15 US CH-53 and CH-46 helicopters, fully loaded with relief goods, are waiting for weather clearance to fly.

Dozens of US men and women in uniform are rushing to arrange the trip. They all avoid smoking, drinking or eating in front of Pakistani soldiers, the majority of whom are fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

'We are also avoiding alcohol as we know that it is forbidden in Pakistan, and we have strict instruction to follow local laws,' said a young marine.

But respecting local customs and carrying out relief work do not seem enough to change the perception of the US.

The usual camaraderie among soldiers is missing and observers are struck by the clear segregation between US and Pakistani troops on the base.

A further indication of the mistrust is that none of the US soldiers is allowed to carry arms on the ground or during flying missions.

There are reports that Pakistan initially offered its pilots to fly the choppers but the US declined. As a compromise, US officers fly the helicopters but at least one Pakistani aviation officer is to be on board during every mission.

The VIP lounge is shared by the officers from both countries, but it is seldom that any of them tries to approach the other side to make small talk.

Most of the interactions are limited professional assignments, leaving little room for long-term individual ties or friendly relations.

'These relief operations are not going to help much as the bad image of the US is due to bad polices towards the region and Pakistan, not a lack of humanitarian sentiment towards the people in distress,' said Tayyab Siddiqui, a former ambassador.

'If the US want better perception in Pakistan, it should help to solve Kashmir problem by using its influence over India, which will really make lots of Pakistanis happy,' he said.