Musharraf decries West's "obsession" with democracy

[bemildred]

Source: Dawn PK

BRUSSELS, Jan 21: Fielding tough questions on upcoming elections, curbs on media freedom and his failure to rein in religious militants, President Pervez Musharraf on Monday vowed to hold free and peaceful parliamentary polls next month but insisted that Western governments must understand Pakistan's difficult political environment and stop their "obsession" with democracy and human rights in the country.

In a 70-minute question and answer session with international reporters, think-tanks and Belgian business leaders, he said that Pakistan�s nuclear assets were in safe military custody, that Pakistan would not allow foreign forces to enter its territory in pursuit of terrorists and that Pakistan army had Al Qaeda "on the run".

The president said that Pakistan faced increased levels of terrorism and Talibanisation of society besides being impacted by events in Afghanistan and the same people were spreading obscurantism in both countries.

He met the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana as well as Belgium's caretaker Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.


Read more: http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/22/top1.htm

[Doctor Cynic]

1. Does Pakistan have an "obsession" with martial law and coups?

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. I don't see any "obsession" with democracy in the United States government right now

Quite the opposite, in fact: I see a power-hungry Ruling Party, a self-described opposition party that actively collaborates with the Ruling Party, a willing figurehead, and a population that, on the whole, is satisfied with the trappings of democracy and does not care to actually excercise any power or responsibility.

So what is Musharraf's beef? :shrug:

[Kolesar]

6. "actively collaborates"

Let's see. One should slit one's wrists lengthwise to be sure the wound stays open to ensure death.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. Show me a vote where the Democrats in Congress actively opposed war spending

Show me where they voted to defend rights such as privacy or habeas corpus. Show me where they did not cave in to whatever the Junta wanted.

For every one vote you can provide, I bet I can provide five or six where they endorse war spending, refused to defend our rights and did cave in to whatever the Junta wanted.

[katty]

9. me either?! where's the obsession-more a dismantling of it

brick by brick!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

3. Hey! Tyrant dude!!!! This 'western government' has propped you up with $60 Billion bucks!!!

What a whiny tyrant!!!

Asshole!

UGH!

[bdamomma]

10. trend carefully Musharraf you are dealing with the BCF.

[Javaman]

4. sounds to me that mush man is getting a worried. nt

[Eugene]

5. Mushy is our friend. We can trust Mushy.

We... must... remember... that! :eyes:

[mpendragon]

8. neighbors

Musharraf is like the guy down the street with a big tire fire in his back yard criticizing his neighbors for having grass a little too long.