Looks like Bush has just re-blessed the military coup of Pakistan

[bigtree]

with trade relations that were prohibited because of the way the government there seized power. So much for 'spreading democracy'.

Last year:

Democracy-linked curbs waived

Dawn Group of Newspapers
http://www.dawn.com/2005/02/17/top3.htm

WASHINGTON, Feb 16, 2005: President George W. Bush has once again waived democracy-related restrictions on Pakistan, enabling the country to continue to receive US assistance.

In a waiver issued on Tuesday evening, Mr Bush certified that Pakistan qualified for a waiver of any provision of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2005.

This recently promulgated act prohibits direct US assistance to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government was deposed by decree or military coup.

In the waiver notification, Mr Bush observed that lifting the restriction would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan. He also noted that the waiver is important to US efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent, acts of international terrorism.


here, he did it again yesterday:



Memorandum for the Secretary of State

Presidential Determination
No. 2006-9_________

SUBJECT: Determination to Waive Military Coup-Related Provision of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2006, with respect to Pakistan

Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including section 534(j) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2006 (the "Act")(Public Law 109 102), and Public Law 107 57, as amended, I hereby determine and certify, with respect to Pakistan, that a waiver of section 508 of the Act:

(a) would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan; and

(b) is important to United States efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent acts of international terrorism.

Accordingly, I hereby waive, with respect to Pakistan, the prohibition contained in section 508 of such Act.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060208-5.html


The Orwellian doublespeak is very much in evidence in the WH claim that removing the trade restrictions which intended to pressure Pakistan to move towards a democratic rule will actually facilitate the transition to democratic rule. Only in Bushland. Having defined the meaning of fascism down with his own autocratic rule, Bush is now free to embrace all sorts of criminals and tyrants in the name of his 'terror' war.

[JDPriestly]

1. This administration's stance on Pakistan is unfathomable.

They talk about freedom all the time, but they are buddy buddy with Pakistan. I just don't get it. Pakistan has to be one of the most unfree places on earth along with Saudi Arabia another of this administration's favorites. Who are they trying to fool with this stuff?

What is the Bush administration getting from its cozy relationship with Pakistan?

[chelsea0011]

2. But he's our dictator, like Saddam in the 1980's

We just can't crush him when we tire of him because he really has WMD's.

[bigtree]

3. found a current article

Bush waives export restrictions on Pakistan

WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush on Wednesday waived restrictions on exports to Pakistan, saying it would ease the democratic transition in the South Asian nation and help combat terrorism.

In a memo to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush said he was easing prohibitions under the Appropriations Act, which targets countries where a democratically elected government has been overturned by a coup, according to a White House statement.

http://www.pakistanlink.com/Headlines/Feb06/09/02.htm

[Historic NY]

4. Well they do have nukes........

and the country tends to like bin laden better than US.