Bush says Musharraf "hasn't crossed the line" in Pakistan

[bigtree]

That's because Bush is so far over the line that he crossed in the years after 9-11 that he has no idea or care where the "line" actually is . . .


Bush More Emphatic In Backing Musharraf
He Says Leader 'Believes in Democracy'

By Michael Abramowitz and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 21, 2007; Page A01

President Bush yesterday offered his strongest support of embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, saying the general "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy."

Bush was asked in the interview if there is any line Musharraf should not cross. "He hasn't crossed the line. As a matter of fact, I don't think that he will cross any lines," Bush replied, according to an ABC transcript. ". . . We didn't necessarily agree with his decision to impose emergency rule, and . . . hopefully he'll get . . . rid of the rule. Today, I thought, was a pretty good signal, that he released thousands of people from jail."


"What exactly would it take for the president to conclude Musharraf has crossed the line? Suspend the constitution? Impose emergency law? Beat and jail his political opponents and human rights activists?" asked Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a presidential candidate. "He's already done all that. If the president sees Musharraf as a democrat, he must be wearing the same glasses he had on when he looked in Vladimir Putin's soul."


Tom Malinowski, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, said that "it's hard to imagine how the administration will be able to achieve anything in Pakistan if the president is so disconnected from reality."

"Almost everyone in Pakistan who believes in George Bush's vision of democracy is in prison today," Malinowski said. "Calling the man who put them in prison a great democrat will only discredit America among moderate Pakistanis and give Musharraf confidence that he can continue to defy the United States because Bush will forgive anything he does."


Mistakes have been made . . .


White House press secretary Dana Perino said in an e-mail message that the president was sincere in his comments to ABC. "He does believe that President Musharraf believes in democracy, and there is evidence to that fact based on the reforms he'd put in place over the last several years," she said. "Musharraf has made a mistake and took a detour -- we are hopeful that he will restore the constitution and get the country back to that path to democracy."


article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/20/AR2007112002304_pf.html

[nightrain]

1. Mabye Bush's taking notes

on what Musharraf does so he can follow him and try to stay in office hisself.

[bigtree]

3. I believe that

He'd like to have it established that an 'emergency" could be declared by the Executive, allowing him to usurp power from the rest of the government as outlined in the new 'Directive 51" that the WH modified in May of this year . . .

National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51
http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-51.htm

[rocktivity]

2. Well, duh.

Shutting down mass media, jailing dissenters, and subverting the rule of law isn't Bush's idea of crossing a line? No, I suppose not...

:eyes:
rocknation

[chelsea0011]

4. Bush thinks rounding up lawyers and shutting down the media is

a good thing. No pun on Martha Stewart.

[gratuitous]

5. Don't forget stacking the Supreme Court

Although that job was largely accomplished before Little Boots took office, one of the few competent jobs he's done in his administration is keeping the Court stacked for years to come.

[Xipe Totec]

6. George wouldn't know democracy if it dressed like an indian and threw a tea party

Same old George, different century.

[bigtree]

7. All these years with Musharraf as supreme dictator of Pakistan, gifted by Bush with our tax dollars

on the eve of an election where he was supposed to be giving up control of Pakistan's military, he suddenly jails all of his political opposition and their supporters, citing his need to fight "terrorists."

Musharraf has completely forfeited any right to be a democratic leader. He's forfeited any chance of the upcoming election to be regarded a "free and fair" as long as he's a candidate. Whatever Bush says Musharraf believes, he's been nothing but an autocrat and a military dictator.

Typical of Bush to put stock in words instead of actions (especially when the two completely contradict each other). Typical of Bush to expect Americans to buy into his deceptions if he repeats them often enough. Typical of Bush to side with another brutal autocrat.

[Ravy]

8. For the first time, I agree with Bush.

Musharraf was *never* on our side of the line, so I do not believe he has crossed it.

[spanone]

9. let's see. suspending constitution. arresting political enemies & lawyers,

naw, bu$h* sees nothing wrong here...why would he?

[bigtree]

11. Congress needs to step up and cut off aid

or, at least condition it

[acmavm]

10. First clue that bush** is lying? Because he used the word 'think'

in relation to himself. I don't know what that stupid beast runs on, but it doesn't have anything to do with what we call the 'thought process'.