‘Emperor’ Bush & Musharraf’s Uniform: May God Bless America!!!
Except for the US media (which too remains ineffective) the American citizens at large have yet to show any public concern over their “Emperor” Bush’s strange utterings/actions. Do a majority of Americans (never mind the polls) still believe that their “ruler” may have chosen the correct path? After reading what President George Bush has to say about General Musharraf, I am now wondering whether any Tom, Dick or Harry can get into the White House and play the monkey as long as he likes!!!
Let’s look at the latest…”US President George Bush stood up decisively for Pakistan’s military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, calling him a ‘loyal ally’ and a ‘man of his word’ and signaling Washington’s full-scale backing for the embattled dictator in the face of wide-spread criticism of US policy,” reports The Times of India.
“In an astonishing defense of the now widely-reviled dictator, Bush told ABC News in an interview at his Camp David retreat: ‘So far I’ve found him to be a man of his word. He’s done more for democracy in Pakistan than any other modern leader has’.
“The only reservation the US President had about Musharraf was the declaration of Emergency. ‘But I believe he’s gonna end up getting Pakistan back on the road to democracy – I certainly hope so,’ Bush said.
“The US President, who has claimed in the past that he is ‘tight’ with Musharraf, said the Pakistani dictator has ‘also advanced democracy in Pakistan. And he’s said he’ll take off his uniform and said there will be election. Today, he released prisoners’.
“Bush’s ringing endorsement seemed to fly in the face of the facts on the ground and came even as the US engineered power-sharing plans in Pakistan at the expense of its democracy yearnings was coming apart at the seams.
“Both US and Pakistani media have pointed out that Musharraf has selectively made common cause with the very extremists Bush credits him with fighting, has repeatedly reneged on promises to demit office and hold free and fair election, and even as he released some prisoners, continued to incarcerate the most respected members of Pakistan’s civil society and judiciary.”
Ha! Ha! Ha! Imagine…a dictator becoming a great lover of democracy by just removing his General’s uniform!!! I have heard a rumour: Musharraf is sending the General’s uniform to the White House. It is up to the Americans to ensure that their ‘Emperor’ does not wear it!!!
5 Responses to “‘Emperor’ Bush & Musharraf’s Uniform: May God Bless America!!!”
“Except for the US media (which too remains ineffective) the American citizens at large have yet to show any public concern over their “Emperor” Bush’s strange utterings/actions.”
I think you underestimate the level of discussion and disagreement over policy and government here. Approval levels of both Congress and the White House are very low – i.e. a *lot* of people are dissatisfied about a *lot* of things, and if the most recent election is any indication, they are voting because of it.
To be sure there are very different views on the subject and no consenus, but there is discussion.
So following Bush’s ringing endorsements of Rumsfeld, Gonzalez, Miers et al we can expect Musharref to be “retiring”.
Heckova job Pervie!
Pakistan is our “beloved drunken uncle” because of previous ties between India and the USSR. At one time India was trending Left and flirting with SOCIALISM, the realist wing embraced Pakistan in our proxy war with USSR. The irony is that India is a moderate democracy and Pakistan always was a faux democracy run by it’s generals. We ignore the Pakistanis lawyers protesting Mushie, yet over hype the Taliban/AQ element. Indian and the US would shit if the Taliban took over, but that is not likely, is it from an Indian point of view.
The American public is like the Pakistani public, as far as I can tell: all very interested but deeply divided as to what should be done.
IMO, Bush makes a mistake by continuing to talk about democracy.when talking about Mushraff. At the moment, it’s about security andabout extremism, not democracy. While elections would serve to let off steam, they would not solve the underlying problems.
Mushraff’s motivation and maneuvering are certainly questionable, but concerning terrorism, who is there in Pakistan that would do better? Bhutto promsies the sun and the moon, but I haven’t seen an explanation of how she would deal with t better.
The dilemma is that when Mushraff does move decisively against the terrorists, there are casualtes, and the public recoils (the same public that would be voting in elections). They demand action but can not accept the consequences.
Elections would only be symbolic, at best. What is more important is Mushraff’s assault on the jusiciary.
It is possible to govern under the rule of law, fairly and justly applied, without having elections. It is not possible to govern well with elected officials who don’t respect the law and with a citizenry who are not treated with justice under the law.
As the US is slowly learning, injustice in detention and detainee treatment can fuel terrorism more directly than the lack of elctions. That’s the kind of thing in Mushraff’s regime that discredits him, not his stand on electons.
What is the US to do, then? It can’t forcibly remove Musharaff, and even if it could, who would it insatll in his place? I don’t know if Bhutto is sincere or coldly canculating to regain raw power of her own.
To be a not-Mushraff is not enough to reassure, however. Whete is her alternate plan? I’ve only heard her say she would deal with terrorism, but I’ve never heard her explain how she would go about it. The US would be foolish to back such a question mark of a person.
It’s a waste of time to expect the US to solve the ineternal problems of every country on earth. It can also be a ghastly mistake for the US to try.
I really, really dislike the language Bush uses when he talks about these difficult situations. It makes twhatever the US does or doesn’t do appear to be duplicitious. I think it’s time the public in the US, Pakistan and the world were spoken to as if they were adults capable of understanding and accepting the not-so=nice choices that have to be made.
A little straight talk would at least clarify what we’re talking about.
Newsflash: our leaders’ justifications for our inhumane foreign policy are a flimsy figleaf hiding a hardon for power.
“Democracy” is less important than “alignment,” both for geopolitical reasons and for money (i.e. arms deals).
Why the hell are people so goddamn mendacious? I think it’s a sign of a declining society. We used to have a department of war, ya know. Now it’s just a bunch of lies.
People will start to believe that Musharraf is a friend of democracy, since Bush said so. It’s just so much easier than admitting something needs to be done. That’s why we allow ourselves to stew in all these ridiculous lies.