I'm sure Dubya gets a lot of respect calling for free elections and democratic ideals. Meanwhile, he works every day to undermine those principles in his own country. Yet most of America can't believe a president would do that.
Perhaps Bush is quietly cheering on a fascist dictator who had the chutzpa to do what he only wishes he could.
ABC News
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf faced his first organized resistance today since declaring a state of emergency, and he responded with force.
Across Pakistan, thousands of lawyers, many in coats and ties, clashed with police in dramatic demonstrations. The lawyers, protesting Musharraf's suspension of the constitution, threw stones and insults, while police responded with batons, tear gas and then arrest.
An estimated 1,500 lawyers, human rights activists and local journalists are now detained by Pakistani police. All independent Pakistani television stations have been shut down as well.
This morning, in Pakistan's capital, the bar association met to plan a strategy. Just as ABC News approached, lawyers told us the head of the bar was being arrested, but when the police saw the cameras, they backed off. But the lawyers we spoke to fear the reprieve will not last.
"Every lawyer is expected to be arrested," lawyer Hanuna Rashid, president of the bar association, said to ABC News' Martha Raddatz. "What can you do? We will fight in the streets. We will fight in the roads."
Although Musharraf imposed a state of emergency as he said, "fight extremists," he has been going after his political opponents, instead.
[..]Today Bush warned Musharraf that his actions were undermining democracy.
[..]U.S. aid to Pakistan — nearly $10 billion since 9/11 — is now seen by many in the country as propping up a deeply unpopular president, who's violating Pakistan's constitution to stay in power.
The nightmare scenario for U.S. officials is that a government collapse could put Pakistan's nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists.
No comments:
Post a Comment