Democracy in Pakistan
Bush support for Musharraf Challenged
The Associated Press
By BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON Jun 14, 2007 (AP)
President Bush's alliance with Pakistan's leader came under fire from a Republican congressman who said Thursday the U.S. should not support what he branded a military dictatorship. At a House hearing on human rights, shortcomings in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Uzbekistan were the designated topics.
But an official from Human Rights Watch added Pakistan to the mix. Tom Malinowski, a former State Department official, characterized the government of Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, as "the most egregious and harmful example of a human rights double-standard in American foreign policy today."
Bush's support for Musharraf, Malinowski said, "appears to align the United States behind one man against virtually every decent segment of Pakistani society against the very people in the country who are most likely to be America's friends and to support a moderate, modern course for Pakistan."
Musharraf is estranged from moderates, relies politically more on Islamists and refuses "to crack down on the Taliban elements who are killing American and NATO troops in Afghanistan," Malinowski said.
"It is a classic case of muting human rights concerns to protect a security relationship," Malinowksi said. "But it is in fact as contrary to U.S. security interests as it is to America's commitment to democracy."
The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on human rights, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, endorsed Malinowski's criticism.
Pakistan's army "is allied with radical Islam and always has been," the lawmaker said. "Let's not support a military dictatorship in Pakistan."
Last week, Bush reaffirmed his confidence in Musharraf as an ally in the fight against terrorism, saying, "We've had some successes in Pakistan thanks to his leadership."
Bush also told reporters during his trip to Europe that while Musharraf "is going to have to deal with democracy issues," democracy is much more established in Pakistan than in some other countries.
It is no surprise to anyone who pays attention that the US routinely supports brutal dictators who are of use politically. However, they usually do it surreptitiously, as Reagan did with first Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, then the Islamic fundamentalist Iranians--not to mention the Contras in Nicaragua, until they are outed.
What makes this kind of funny is that George W. Bush hasn't figured out yet that most Americans are not as stupid or gullible as he appears to be. And so when he stands up and supports Pervez Musharraf, who came to power in a coup that overthrew the legitimate government of Pakistan in 1999, and who has now turned Pakistan into a dictatorship, his actions don't correlate very well with the Bush administration PR talking points. It does not show support for democracy when you praise the national leader who singlehandedly shut down democracy in his country.
Of course, George W. Bush's judgement when it comes to national leaders sucks. This is the man who "looked into the soul" of Russian president Vladimir Putin and didn't see the tyranical Communist dictator that everyone else can see so clearly.