As US and British bombs and missiles rained upon Afghanistan, President Bush, British Prime Minster Tony Blair and the US media stressed the humanitarian aspects of the attack. President Bush said “the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we will also drop food, medicine, and Supplies to the starving people of Afghanistan.” The New York Times ran articles detailing the contents of the 37,000 food packets dropped by two US C-17 cargo aircraft.

But international aid agencies are denouncing the aid drops as a PR move that will do nothing to alleviate thehumanitarian catastrophe caused by US and British air strikes.

Guest:

• Alex Renton, OXFAM International, speaking from Islamabad.

Related link:

• OXFAM International