Musharraf learned well from Bush.

[americanstranger]

Musharraf has learned the Bush lexicon, and stands poised to shove it up Bush's ass. Check this out:

General Musharraf’s supporters argued Sunday that his government — now unencumbered by legal constraints and political concerns by the emergency decree — will be in a better position to eradicate extremists and that if the United States wants that security, it must back him.

Isn't that the exact same argument that Bush has been making to the American people since 9/11 - that established laws were standing in the way, and the only way to 'keep us safe' was to circumvent those laws??

This next bit makes me wonder if Musharraf has been watching The Sopranos.

“If your agenda is to save attacks in the U.S. and eliminate Al Qaeda, only the Pakistani Army can do that,” said the close aide to General Musharraf. “For that, you will have to forget about elections in Pakistan for maybe two to three years.”

Now, it it just me, or does it sound like Pervez is saying to Bush something along the lines of 'Nice country you've got there - be a shame if something happened to it'?

And the ironies are in danger of a Fresno-style pile-up here - it seems like the guy who's shaking down Bush is possibly the one leader who is even less popular in his country than Bush is here.

There is little question that General Musharraf has failed to develop broad domestic support for battling terrorists. His political party is divided, has not carried out promised reforms and would likely lose an election.

A poll in September by Terror Free Tomorrow, a Washington-based nonprofit group, showed that Osama bin Laden was more popular in Pakistan than General Musharraf, with 46 percent of respondents giving him a “favorable” rating against 38 percent for the president. Ms. Bhutto got a “favorable” rating from 63 percent. The nationwide poll surveyed 1,044 adults and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Seriously, though - this is bad. But in true Bush fashion, give it a week, and it'll no doubt be much, much worse.

(original post at http://www.blah3.com/article.php?story=20071105001302823. Source material from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/washington/05diplo.html.)

- as

[God23]

1. And THIS scares the hell out of me.

God forbid dimson takes a page here.

[Selatius]

2. He learned nothing from Bush. Musharraf is using more crude tactics forged by Hitler.

Hitler laced his excuses in the language of national security as well, but the business interests and neocons in the US have taken it a step further by preserving the illusion of democracy. Musharraf didn't even go that far. He simply liquidated the legislature and the courts, what Hitler had done. There was no serious attempt to preserve the illusion, which is a powerful tool that helps guide the thoughts of the people towards the idea that they're still free when they're slaves.

[nightrider767]

3. He's Still Bush's Pawn

If you think anything that's going on does not play exactly in Bush's game plan, then I would suggest you are way off base.

Bush couldn't be any happier than right now. I promise you that. Ok,,, maybe I can't actually promise, but I speculate that he is happy indeed.

Using dictators is nothing new for this country. Bush gets a real offensive against Al Quieda and Musharraf gets to stay in power. But he couldn't do that with out installing martial law after civil unrest.

From what I heard this whole affair started with 200 police and military captured and later released by militants.

Now I ask you something.... Do you really believe that happened???????

And if that doesn't scare you enough,,, don't forget, Bush could very well follow his lead.

[americanstranger]

4. I think it's all a kabuki dance.

Condi says they're upset, says they'll review the aid package - and then reports come out that the aid will continue.

What rich irony. Musharraf has Bush by the balls and he knows it.

We invaded that part of the world, ostensibly, to rid the world of a vicious dictator who ruled his country with an iron fist.

In the process, we allied ourselves with a vicious dictator who is ruling his country with an iron fist - and took $10 billion in US money to solidify his power o boot.

Only this dictator actually has WMD, and we knew that going in. Musharraf has fleeced The Rube in the White House, and Bush takes it like a little bitch.

Incompetence. Corruption. Irony. Unintended consequences.

Only a Bush could fuck things up this badly.

- as

[nightrider767]

5. A Staged Dance, the Kabuki

I agree that this whole faux situation is staged.

But I'd part company with you on one item. I don't think that Bush has "fu$ked up". The scariest thing for me, is I think this is all part of his plan.

I don't think the taking of Iraq was the end game.

I think they've got their eye on the entire Middle East.