Pakistan News And Discussion-10

[Guest]

<b>Democracy Under Arrest</b>
<i>Why is the Bush administration 'proud' to support Pakistan's military ruler?</i><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->THE BUSH administration offered another ringing public endorsement of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf this week.<b> "We have a fundamental interest in the success of Pakistan as a moderate, stable, democratic Muslim nation,"</b> Assistant Secretary of State Richard A. Boucher said at a news conference Thursday in Islamabad during which he announced a $750 million aid package. According to the Associated Press, he added: <b>"That's the direction that Musharraf is leading the nation, and we are proud to work with him."</b>

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Mr. Boucher's rhetoric notwithstanding, some in the Bush administration argue that it's worth tolerating and subsidizing Gen. Musharraf's autocracy because it is an ally against terrorism. But there, too, the general does not deliver. He has handed control of Waziristan, on the border with Afghanistan, to the Taliban, which is allowing al-Qaeda to operate training camps while waging war against U.S. and NATO forces across the border. Both houses of Congress have passed legislation linking further aid to Pakistan to steps against the Taliban. Yet the administration stiffly opposes the measures; Mr. Boucher publicly assured Pakistanis that there would be no aid restrictions. <b>It's hard to understand why. Does the Bush administration really believe that its unqualified declarations of support will change this military strongman's behavior?</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->