by Mark Silva
If the Bush administration's hands are tied in its strained relationship with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, it is because the U.S. counts on the Army general to hold a line against Islamic radicals more than it does to promote the democracy which Bush wants.
The U.S. has funneled military aid into Pakistan since Musharraf’s swift agreement to align with the U.S. following the al Qaeda-launched terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Yet this alliance represented the geopolitical equivalent of a shotgun marriage. Musharraf, in his written memoir, has claimed that then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called on him after 9/11 and said Pakistan faced the choice of joining the U.S. in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and his forces or 'be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age,’’ Armitage has disputed the account.
In return for U.S. support, Musharraf often has reiterated his promise to hold free elections in the nation that he has ruled since 1999.
“Let me assure you that democracy will prevail,’’ Musharraf said in March 2006, standing alongside President Bush in Islamabad and delivering a long answer to a reporter's question. “Sustainable democracy has been introduced in Pakistan and will prevail in Pakistan, especially beyond 2007,’’ Musharraf said. “ Long answer.’’
“Yes,’’ said Bush, “important answer.’’
See the story in today's Tribune, and read more of the background here:
Vice President Dick Cheney had traveled to Islamabad in February, and also to Kabul, to meet separately with Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai. “The reason the president wanted me to come, obviously, is because of the continuing threat that exists in this part of the world on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border -- a threat to Afghanistan, clearly… a threat to Musharraf and his government,’’ Cheney told reporters then.
Cheney called his meetings “very productive. We've had notable successes in both places.’’ Yet, speaking of Musharraf’s success in containing militants within Pakistan, Cheney said: “He is on record as saying it has produced fewer results than he had expected.’’
In July, a National Intelligence Estimate, concluded that: “Al Qaeda is and will remain the most serious terrorist threat to the Homeland, as its central leadership continues to plan high-impact plots… We assess the group has protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including a safe haven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) (for its) operational lieutenants, and its top leadership.’’
In September 2006, Bush played host to both Musharraf and Karzai over dinner at the White House.
“These two men are personal friends of mine,’’ Bush said then. “We've got a lot of challenges facing us. All of us must protect our countries, but at the same time, we all must work to make the world a more hopeful place.’’
Bush had paid his own visit to Musharraf in Islamabad in March 2006 and they issued a joint-statement at the time in which the U.S. pledged continuing military and economic support for Pakistan.
They also spoke of what Pakistan promised in return for U.S. support: “We spent a lot of time talking about democracy in Pakistan,’’ Bush said then, “and I believe democracy is Pakistan's future…. President Musharraf has made clear that he intends to hold elections.’’
Musharraf maintained then that he already had made gains: “We have liberated the media and the press. If you see this press today sitting around here, and the media, previously there was only one Pakistan television. Today there are dozens of channels. All these people sitting around are the result of my democratization of Pakistan, opening the Pakistan society of the media… And they're totally liberated. ‘’
Today, the Pakistani leader’s state of emergency includes the suspension of privately run TV stations critical of his regime.
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Comments
Anything which causes grief to the gang of criminals in the White House must have some redeeming value, even Musharraf’s suspension of Pakistan’s constitution.
Sarcasm aside, here we go again with destructive outcomes from the Afghan and Iraq invasions.
All the U.S. cares about in Pakistan is the border and the movement of Taleban supporters. This completely ignores the fact that there is no genuine border in the Durand Line.
Families on both sides belong to the same tribal group and speak the same language and share religion and customs.
Yet somehow, Gen Musharraf is supposed to suppress this historic reality in favor of what armchair experts on the Potomac think should be done.
America's so-called war on terror is thus translated into a real war inside Pakistan, tearing apart families and causing needless harm.
The U.S. has put immense pressure on Musharraf, even to sending over Ms Bhutto whose own record is a sorry one.
At the same time, the Taleban have now taken control of two provinces from the corrupt warlord governors the U.S. used in its invasion.
The situation in Afghanistan, according to good critical observers in Britain and other places, is almost hopeless.
On another front, we have the PKK attacking Turkey, and note the total hypocrisy of the White House reaction. Israel killed more than thousand people and left a million cluster-bomb bomblets on the flimsy excuse of having two soldiers kidnapped.
The attack on Turkish forces was a serious one, yet the White House prevents Turkey from responding, going to the extreme apparently of influencing the release of kidnap victims.
The October death toll in Iraq was higher than the month before, even though official American sources make loud claims of reduced violence. The only real change is the frequency and location of bombs.
American soldiers now frequently speak of the hopeless mess in Iraq. None of this is widely reported by establishment newspapers.
America has left huge open wounds across the region, yet still the madman in the White House threatens more, an attack on Iran, a country which has attacked no one and is threatened itself on many sides.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | November 5, 2007 8:16 AM
The AlQuaeda have made Pakistan take this course.Musarraf is doing what he has to do to keep peace in Pakistan. AlQuaeda almost killed Buetto his prime minister.
As usual Dickie Durbin was spouting off this morning on network radio his partisan attack on Mussarraf and how we have to have democracy. If AlQuaeda was after Dickie he'd run like hell. But, behind any microphone or TV camera Durbin is the king of talk especially socialist Democrat talk. When will he be quiet? Jerry White, Springfield, IL P.S. Dickie Durbin is the apostle of the obvious.
Posted by: Jerry White | November 5, 2007 9:06 AM
Jerry White-
Your ignorance is showing again, as is yor hatred of democracy.
Benazir Bhutto is NOT Prime Minister of Pakistan. She has strongly condemned Musharraf's actions.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3818161&page=1
"Gen. Musharraf needs to be told very plainly that it's important for Pakistan that the constitution be restored, that the judiciary be respected, that political prisoners be released, and that fair, free, and independent elections be held under an independent election commission," Bhutto told ABC News' "Good Morning America Weekend Edition" on Sunday.
Posted by: AJF | November 5, 2007 9:22 AM
John Chuckman is the epitome of a Loony Lefty Kook.
Point 1: "Anything which causes grief to the gang of criminals in the White House must have some redeeming value, even Musharraf’s suspension of Pakistan’s constitution."
Chuckman later says "sarcasm aside," but I would say that sentiment truly is accurate to his desires. Chuckman is pleased there is strife in Pakistan because it is a problem for Bush and the U.S. But John, it's also a problem for the people of Pakistan, the Middle East, perhaps India and maybe even the world.
Point 2: "Sarcasm aside, here we go again with destructive outcomes from the Afghan and Iraq invasions."
Destructive ou8tcomes from the Afghan and Irai invasions??? First of all, Pakistan has little to do with Iraq, except that in both places the rational world is fighting the Islamic lunatic fringe. But apparently Chuckman was against the U.S/UN/NATO invasion of Afghanistan. Chuckman, that invasion was to remove the Taliban from power, enact democracy in that part of the world, AND to get Al Qaeda. Most of which has been accomplished.
Point 3: "America's so-called war on terror is thus translated into a real war inside Pakistan, tearing apart families and causing needless harm."
John, it's just not America's war on terror, but the world's war on terror. Hmmmm, didn't some Islamic lunatic terrorists devise a plot to kill folks from your Canadian government, including the Prime Minister?
Point 4: "The situation in Afghanistan, according to good critical observers in Britain and other places, is almost hopeless.
On another front, we have the PKK attacking Turkey, and note the total hypocrisy of the White House reaction. Israel killed more than thousand people and left a million cluster-bomb bomblets on the flimsy excuse of having two soldiers kidnapped.
The attack on Turkish forces was a serious one, yet the White House prevents Turkey from responding, going to the extreme apparently of influencing the release of kidnap victims.
The October death toll in Iraq was higher than the month before, even though official American sources make loud claims of reduced violence. The only real change is the frequency and location of bombs.
American soldiers now frequently speak of the hopeless mess in Iraq. None of this is widely reported by establishment newspapers."
Basically, above is a mishmash of nonsense, lies, distortions and fabrications.
Sorry, Chuckman, but the U.S. troops do not speak of a hopeless mess in Iraq. If anything, the opposite is true.
Israel's attack on Arab terrorists such as Hezbollah, was not just because of the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers, but because of a series of events. The fact that the Palestinians are fighting amongst themselves, largely between one murderous, corrupt branch and one more moderate but corrupt branch speaks volumes of the situation in the area and against your distorted simplification.
The problems the PKK are causing are serious, no doubt, but it also seems the Kurds in Iraq and the Iraqi government are working to quell that problem. Let's hope they succees in dealing with the PKK. No doubt, you don't want success and would rather have Turkey invade northern Iraq, just so you can get amusement and enjoyment over more deaths and more instability in the region.
Chuckman, you are on sick, delusional ba**ard.
Posted by: John D | November 5, 2007 9:26 AM
The region it totally unstable now. It's difficult to see a way in which the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq has helped anything. However, we have only two choices at this point. One is to get out of the region and let it resolve it's own problems. The other is to get totally into the conflict and try to influence it to give the U.S. more power and influence there. If we choose the second course of action, we will have to commit far more military might there than we have so far. We will certainly have to start drafting troops to fill that need. We will certainly have to ask more sacrifice from the American public. Gasoline rationing, mandatory conservation of heating and electricity producing fuels, etc.
The time has come for the American people to decide whether or not we really want to enter into The Middle East War. If we decide in the affirmative, our daily lives will have to change dramatically.
The 2008 election, in America, will be a war vote for sure.
No candidate, in any party, can successfully run for office and evade that issue.
Tough times ahead.
Posted by: San Miguel | November 5, 2007 10:03 AM
Further proof that Bush's desire to spread "freedom and democracy" is all just smoke.
Pakistan is a nuclear power with an unstable dictatorship government and a history of civil rights abuses.
...and we are providing billions in military aid. Another foreign diplomacy win for the White House.
I think Bush envies Musharraf. He would love to suspend all civil liberties (not just the ones he has chipped away so far) and lock up the opposition.
Posted by: Carl L | November 5, 2007 10:06 AM
"First of all, Pakistan has little to do with Iraq, except that in both places the rational world is fighting the Islamic lunatic fringe."
But which side is Musharraf on John D, the rational world, or the lunatic fringe?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/04/bhutto/index.html
Posted by: AJF | November 5, 2007 10:51 AM
[quote]
Chuckman, you are on sick, delusional ba**ard.
Posted by: John D | November 5, 2007 9:26 AM
[/quote]
Pay attention, Mr. Chuckman: when Geographically Challenged Dumb Dumb Little Johnnie D, "the Joseph Stalin of Streamwood", calls someone a "sick, delusional ba**ard", he knows what he's talking about.
Because he truly is an expert in being a "sick, delusional ba**ard."
Posted by: BC | November 5, 2007 10:57 AM
BC, please again tell me why I am geographically challenged? Seems to be on several occasions I have put for hordes of fact that clearly show about one-third to one-half of Cuba lines the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, Havana is listed as a Gulf Coastal city. Funny, you keep ignoring that information. Fruther proof you are dumber than a watermelon seed. Get a clue and get a life, unemployed loser.
Posted by: John D | November 5, 2007 11:53 AM
I think John D. makes the most academic, well thought out logical and reasonable arguments ever know to the history of mankind. So perfect I'm begining to doubt his existence and can only conclude he must be an identity created by a software program released shortly after 9/11. He is unbeatable in his intellect. Bravo Pentagon, you've bested the liberal establishment once again...for now.
Posted by: steven | November 5, 2007 12:35 PM
"Steven," or is that John E? dt? Illogic Man? Interesting that there hasn't been a "Steven" post here, yet he seems like a regular Loony Lefter.
You repesating your posts, is another example of the maniacal Left. Thanks for the help in proving that Left craziness!
Posted by: John D | November 5, 2007 2:36 PM
Steven has been around just like steve34 and John D. Maybe you just forgot to put him on your list of regular loonies to hate. Pay attention or you might get side swiped when you cross the road.
Posted by: Tired | November 5, 2007 3:11 PM
And John D does know a thing or two about repeating...himself
Eample, Liberal Media
Chuckman, the NY Times is the gospel to the Left. Perhaps not the Far Loony Left Kook fringe that you belong to, but make no mistake, the Ny Times is a bastion of Leftists thought and propaganda.
Posted by: John D | November 5, 2007 9:29 AM
If there are any traitors in this country it is the Demoncratic party, the liberal media and the Demented Loons on the Left.
Posted by: John D | September 6, 2007 2:04 PM
Actually he was pushed, but not by how the media is implying. Rather than the Bush administration pushing Gonzalez out, it was the media and its Leftist Demoncratic operatives. Minority Republoicans are a thing to be destroyed in the eyes of the Loony Left, Demoncrats and their media operatives.
Posted by: John D | August 27, 2007 4:48 PM
No liberal media?? I guess Bruce Y you think we need all media outlets to be the Havana Times? And Frank you know better. No one expects any media to help a party or candidate. Really, though, I read puff piece after puff piece in the Tribune and most other media outlets on practically all Democrats...
Posted by: John D | July 21, 2006 10:41 AM
Well Mr. Moore, even though the Tribune endorsed Bush doesn't mean all of its reporters and most of its editors and columnists tow the left line.
Posted by: John D | January 4, 2006 1:37 PM
It is always ground hog day for John D. Notice the dates. "'Steven,' or is that John E? dt? Illogic Man?"... Paranoia much?? Add an extra dose of your medication for your paranoia "we save your comments" too. Hahahahahah
Posted by: Chimpsareforfree | November 5, 2007 3:55 PM
I seem to remember a portion in US history where FDR had to forge an alliance with Stalin's Russia in order to destroy a greater evil.
Then again, I wouldn't expect libs to remember that anyway since they probably didn't learn it in hisrtory class in the first place.
Posted by: Terry | November 5, 2007 10:34 PM
Good grief, you weirdo Lefty Loons save everything I write here? Stuff going all the back into early 2006, almost two years??
Really, need I say more? Not only are you Loons the worst mankind has to offer, but clearly you folks have no life!!!
Posted by: John D | November 5, 2007 10:39 PM
mullah cimoc say benjamin frankling so ashame now if see ameriki people not to rise up and help him brother in pakistan.
somewhere ameriki lose way, now not to support him freedom fighter. now just for the kill and him ameriki not to care. this because usa media keep ameriki so stupid with war news blockade.
Posted by: mullah cimoc | November 6, 2007 12:28 AM