Reply #11: Despite warnings, Bush officials couldn't stop Musharraf

[babylonsister]

Despite warnings, Bush officials couldn't stop Musharraf
By Renee Schoof and Warren P. Strobel | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Saturday, November 3, 2007


WASHINGTON — The imposition of emergency rule on Saturday in nuclear-armed Pakistan underscores how little influence the Bush administration has on events in a country that has become the bulwark in the U.S. fight against terrorism.

U.S. officials moved quickly to denounce the order by Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, which suspended the constitution and shut down non-government news media. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. government was "deeply disturbed" by the move, which the White House called "very disappointing."

Washington's lack of influence, however, was palpable. On Friday, both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Turkey for talks on Iraq, and Adm. William J. Fallon, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, had warned Musharraf not to impose emergency rule. But Musharraf didn't even wait for Fallon, who was in Pakistan, to leave the country before making his declaration.

Foreign policy experts said there were few steps the administration could take to pressure Musharraf to change course.

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