Musharraf 'essential ally'

[budgie]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071107/...co/us_pakistan

There goes democracy in Pakistan.

[Laworkerbee]

The one thing I want to know about Pakistan right now is where the generals sit with all of this and how much pressure they exert on Musharraf?

The West and China can tap dance all they want but in the end I believe outside ranting will achieve zero results in Pakistan's battle for its soul.

[muck]

Musharraf 'essential ally'

Maybe he is, the question is whether the rest of the country is, too.

[Mastermind]

With a few nuclear weapons with potential to fall under the control of rabid, lunatic, insane Mullahs who are committed to a suicide pact in the name of Islam...Musharraf had damn well better be a friend and had damn well better keep control ...the Western Leaders are absolute fools for pressuring him to do g.d.md thing except keep those fgn nuts separated from the weapons. Otherwise, there will be several very good reasons to go all preemptive on both Paki and Iran. Nukes simply can not fall into the hands of these freaks.

[Rictor]

There goes democracy in Pakistan.

Pakistan has never been a democracy.

"You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time," Bush said, describing a telephone call with Gen. Pervez Musharraf. "I had a very frank discussion with him."

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bush exactly that? Both President and Command in Chief of the military, who ranks higher than the SecDef and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? In which case this would literally be the pot calling the kettle black?

[I can't think of a name]

Pakistan has never been a democracy.


Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bush exactly that? Both President and Command in Chief of the military, who ranks higher than the SecDef and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? In which case this would literally be the pot calling the kettle black?

Maybe he means under Pakistani law.

[budgie]

With a few nuclear weapons with potential to fall under the control of rabid, lunatic, insane Mullahs who are committed to a suicide pact in the name of Islam...Musharraf had damn well better be a friend and had damn well better keep control ...the Western Leaders are absolute fools for pressuring him to do g.d.md thing except keep those fgn nuts separated from the weapons. Otherwise, there will be several very good reasons to go all preemptive on both Paki and Iran. Nukes simply can not fall into the hands of these freaks.

Congratulations, you bought it.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Bush exactly that? Both President and Command in Chief of the military, who ranks higher than the SecDef and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? In which case this would literally be the pot calling the kettle black?

I don't think so. What they're talking about is the fact that there is no separation of powers. As much as everybody has been buying into the King Bush myth - he is not a king, and does not have absolute authority over the military. He has to go Congress (the voice of the people) for some kind of OK to use force first. And of course Congress can remove him from office if they like.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

With a few nuclear weapons with potential to fall under the control of rabid, lunatic, insane Mullahs who are committed to a suicide pact in the name of Islam...Musharraf had damn well better be a friend and had damn well better keep control ...the Western Leaders are absolute fools for pressuring him to do g.d.md thing except keep those fgn nuts separated from the weapons. Otherwise, there will be several very good reasons to go all preemptive on both Paki and Iran. Nukes simply can not fall into the hands of these freaks.

Actually I wouldn't worry about a Talibanesque style theocracy establishing itself. Apart from the border regions with Afghanistan, Pakistan is quite the normal liberally minded country.

[Laworkerbee]

Actually I wouldn't worry about a Talibanesque style theocracy establishing itself. Apart from the border regions with Afghanistan, Pakistan is quite the normal liberally minded country.

Those two factions will tear each other apart, so once again where does the army fall between the two if civil war breaks out?

[Ordie]

The Shah of Iran was also an essential ally.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Those two factions will tear each other apart, so once again where does the army fall between the two if civil war breaks out?

Something along the lines of Turkey actually.

[Rictor]

I don't think so. What they're talking about is the fact that there is no separation of powers. As much as everybody has been buying into the King Bush myth - he is not a king, and does not have absolute authority over the military. He has to go Congress (the voice of the people) for some kind of OK to use force first. And of course Congress can remove him from office if they like.

Never said he was a King, only that he is both head of state and head of the military. This is a statement of fact - either it's true or it isn't. In theory he needs to go before Congress for an authorization to use force, but in practice it will simply be claimed that any given conflict is part of the War on Terror so no additional authorization is needed.

I'm not comparing the political systems of Pakistan and America or trying to knock Bush, merely stating that he wields the same powers that Musharraf is criticized for possessing.

[avedis]

i think under the pakistani constitution you cant be both head of army and of state...
thats y the white house wants him to step down from his position in the army
i could b wrong

[I can't think of a name]

The Shah of Iran was also an essential ally.

yep, because look at the alternative.