The Washington Post reports:
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 spoke nearly three weeks after Musharraf declared emergency rule, sacked members of the Supreme Court and began a roundup of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists. Musharraf's government yesterday released about 3,000 political prisoners, although 2,000 remain in custody, according to the Interior Ministry.
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 spoke nearly three weeks after Musharraf declared emergency rule, sacked members of the Supreme Court and began a roundup of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists. Musharraf's government yesterday released about 3,000 political prisoners, although 2,000 remain in custody, according to the Interior Ministry.
Here's Barack Obama's response to Bush's comments:
President Bush's statement yesterday that General Pervez Musharraf "has not crossed a line" in declaring a state of emergency and throwing thousands of democratic activists in prison is bad for the United States and bad for Pakistan. The United States should not support authoritarian action - we should support the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. That is why I have proposed making some of our aid to Pakistan conditional on President Musharraf reversing his state of emergency and holding elections that are free and fair. Pakistan is a critical ally. But by giving President Musharraf a blank check, President Bush is alienating the very people in Pakistan who are most likely to share our values, and undercutting his own support for democracy abroad. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continues to maintain its safe-haven in northwest Pakistan. We need to support a legitimate, democratic government in Pakistan that will work with us against the common enemies that we share.
President Bush's statement yesterday that General Pervez Musharraf "has not crossed a line" in declaring a state of emergency and throwing thousands of democratic activists in prison is bad for the United States and bad for Pakistan. The United States should not support authoritarian action - we should support the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. That is why I have proposed making some of our aid to Pakistan conditional on President Musharraf reversing his state of emergency and holding elections that are free and fair.
Pakistan is a critical ally. But by giving President Musharraf a blank check, President Bush is alienating the very people in Pakistan who are most likely to share our values, and undercutting his own support for democracy abroad. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continues to maintain its safe-haven in northwest Pakistan. We need to support a legitimate, democratic government in Pakistan that will work with us against the common enemies that we share.
Comments are closed for this post.
