Musharraf Announces Resignation
By Steve Hynd Sunday Aug 17, 2008 4:19amPresident Musharraf of Pakistan has announced his resignation this morning, in an address to his nation in advance of impeachment charges which were expected to be filed tomorrow.
In a one-hour long televised address, Musharraf defended his nearly nine-year rule and rejected accusations against him, but said he was leaving office.
"After consultations with legal advisers and close political supporters and on their advice, I'm taking the decision of resigning," a somber Musharraf said.
"My resignation will go to the speaker of the National Assembly today."
His resignation had been rumored for weeks and speculation peaked yesterday, with the new civilian government in particular pushing it as an alternative to messy court proceedings, although until today Musharraf had insisted he would stay to fight the charges. There's little doubt that his Western allies have pressured him to accept a deal, seeking to keep Pakistan a little more stable at a time when it seems in danger of falling apart at the seams.
I was highly sceptical that he would step down as it implied a level of complicity by the military and ISI intelligence that I believed was more touted than real. It seems I was wrong. It remains to be seen whether the new government's further claims that it has complete control over the military and intelligence agencies now are also real following some very embarrassing setbacks - and whether it will curb the ISI from using Islamist terror groups as foreign policy proxies against its traditional bugbear India.
The other interesting question is "what will Mushie do next?" Exile seems likeliest and there have been rumors that the US, which has long backed the former dictator, would offer him asylum. But it appears that the Saudis have stepped in, as major mediators of the resignation deal, and so Musharraf will probably retire there. Which is ironic, in that it will put the man who was ultimately in charge of the intelligence agency that was pulling Al Qaeda's strings prior to (and post) 9/11 in the country that furnished most of the hijackers - and both Musharraf and the Saudi rulers are staunch Bush allies.
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So what next ... ?
Shan, the Pakistani military just aren't going to give up using terror groups as proxies against India. The civilian government has had a couple of attempts to exert more control over the ISI and they've been roundly rebuffed. I don't see much changing as regards foreign policy, in that Pakistan will blithely go on pretending to be a staunch ally in the War Against Some Terror while fomenting a goodly deal of the world's terror itself - and the next US administration will blithely go about pretending to believe them because there are no other good options. On the domestic front too, little changes. The government will keep doing deals with extremists that then go sour while the military will keep pulling the extremists strings. Eventually, there'll be a confrontation over who really has the power and don't bet on the civilians to win it.
Regards, C
How is this going to change anything? In case people have forgotten it was Benazir Bhutto that brought OBL to Pakistan (and assigned that task to Mushie who was then a general in her army) to rehabilitate him and give him a job after CIA left. Pakistan has always tried to create and foment trouble in India and Afghanistan, the difference being Afghanistan was not as strong as India and hence it fell to the Taliban in early 90s. Pakistan first tried Punjab and then Kashmir to foment trouble in the late 1980s. That is when terrorism was born. The terrorists first kidnapped a minister's daughter and got 4 of their people released from prison and that is when Pak realized that India is weak because the government can not be seen killing 'Muslim' terrorists as it will alienate a crucial voting block. This was very apparent in the Hazratbal fiasco. From the late 80s to mid nineties, the terrorists killed (ethnically cleansed) the Hindu minority (known as Kashmiri Pandits) from the Kashmir valley. This was done under successive regimes of different pakistani leaders, military and civilian (BB, Nawaz Sharif, yahya khan etc.).
This is not going to change anything.. pakistan will still export terrorism and/or nuclear weapons (remember how AQ Khan was supposedly acting all on his own and who is now undergoing the harshest of punishment: house arrest). Until Pakistan is confronted and told to stop their nonsense against *ALL* countries this problem will continue to bite us. Remember, Saudis are also fundamentalists and very rich but they dont have nukes and they didnt invent terrorism, it was done by Pakistan.
I have to say that this is disturbing. At least he held tight control over the nukes there. Well , at least thats the way it looks.
Yes, this guy was/is a puppet of the US. Yes, this guy was/is a bushie.
My question is: Is Pakistan's new govt going to be some nut job whacko islamic fundamentalists, who are bent on destroying the " Great Satan" or are they going to be more akin to govt policy than religious perspectives. I don't care what religion does this. They're all whacko to me.
And what about going after Bin Forgotten? I know what Bhutto said, and I do somewhat believe he's dead. Somewhat.
But, I'd like to see some proof or evidence that he is in fact dead. So until then, we have to pursue him.
Another bushie getting thrown aside . I have to wonder, will the next govt be better or worse?
Maybe he'll work on the McCain campaign.
Not sure if you know this but Pakistan is already fighting a war within its own borders against the militants. Alot of the Pakistani troops have died defending the civilians against these extremist elements. ISI isn't the only one using extremists to fight Proxy wars. I Am not sure if you know about the whole scenario but RAW and KHAD (Afghan Intelligence) have been operating within Pakistani borders in full force trying to destabilize the region. Just recently in Swat where the Pakistani Army is fighting the Taliban they just discovered Indian Made made weapons which were provided to the Taliban.
Was India directly involved, i don't think so but RAW has been selling weapons in Afghanistan. Ever wondered why India has FOUR consulates in Afghanistan? I Am sure its not only for Trade reasons. Pretty much everyone has been using these Extreme Elements for their Agenda. CIA has used them, KHAD has used them, RAW has used them and even ISI uses them. The bomb blast that was done in Kabul on an indian consulate was done by ISI within 24 hours RAW went ahead with 7 Bomb Blasts within Karachi. ISI retaliated by doing 17 Bomb Blasts in Ahmadabad, and RAW retaliated with killing 10 Pakistani Airmen.
This is a long proxy war thats going on which might continue for sometime. The Very Militants and extremists that the Pakistan Army has been fighting for the past 4 months using Gunships Helicopters, Aircrafts, artillary etc... I wonder where all these militants are getting their Weapons from? ... it would be foolish to assume ISI is behind this trying to kill its own Army men now wouldn't it.
Harris @ 6 ... can you point us to articles or some proof (not PTv reports) which state Indian made ammo was found.. India doesnt do this nonsense.. Even during the Kargil war, India showed remarkable restraint to not enter Pakistani territory although Pakistani army was fighting dressed as terrorists.... Where do you get these stories about 'RAW' killing 10 arimen? Did you forget that Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in effect since Kargil war in late 90s on India's independence day? Or this piece just didnt fit your narrative of "we are all bad people... US, India, Pakistan...".. that is not true.. US, India are the biggest democracies on this planet and despite several shortcomings, neither government was ever directly involved in ethnic cleansing as Pakistan ws in 1947-48 (within Pakistan 26% of the population was Hindu or christian.. in 1949 only 2%), 1971 (in East Pakistan, killing Bengalis) and again in 1980 (killing Kashmiri Hindus )
The so called 'war' pakistan is fighting inside its country is various nutjob religious factions trying to get control over other religious factions so they can then destroy the infidels..
Why do you think he is in HOUSE ARREST?
Dr. AQ Khan knows that Musharaf himself was involved in Selling nucelar weapons to North Korea and JUST recently he spoke out. Why isn't he allowed to talk to Foreign Journalists?
Musharaf's Reply:
"Pakistan's sovereignty would be affronted by letting U.S. intelligence agents cross-examine him. Khan is regarded as a national hero, and the United States is widely hated in Pakistan for invading Iraq and Afghanistan and for its insensitivity to civilian casualties. If Musharraf wanted to cooperate, however, he could permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to interrogate Khan, as former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto had suggested, or Musharraf could find out what Khan knows and give the United States the information it needs to confront the North Koreans."
That to me is the biggest Bullshit in the world. Here is what AQ khan just said a month ago on July 5th.
"North Korea received centrifuges from Pakistan in a 2000 shipment supervised by the security forces during the rule of President Pervez Musharraf."
Here is the link if you don't believe me...
http://pakistaniat.com/2008/07/04/dr-a-q-khan-speaks-out/
Hypocracy at its best eh.. Musharaf himself sells weapons to north korea.. the US supports Musharaf.. and blames it on AQ khan
Cernig @ 2:
I'm never quite sure what Pakistan is up to. They've gone head to head with the Indians in three wars and lost all of them. If they push too hard, they will get swatted. India can survive a war with Pakistan, Pakistan on the other hand is more likely not to.
Nominally Pakistan is an ally of Sri Lanka (well, of more use to us than India, who if anything have probably impeded progress a number of times) in helping the government win their long running civil war but in regards to the rest of the world, I think a lot of people view them with more suspicion than anything else, especially for things like the embassy bombing.
On a side note, the LTTE in Sri Lanka (the side opposing the government) may not have invented suicide bombing but they surely perfected it to the point that it has been unleashed on many other parts of the world with devastating results. Maybe if the rest of the world had gotten more involved sooner to put a stop to it in Sri Lanka - well, who knows ... It may come as no surprise to anyone that the Sri Lankan Army has been using the opportunity of the relative distraction of the Rest of the World to go on a series of major offensives - much like everyone else with a civil war they want to end.
Harris @ 8.. hilarious.. so you post some Pakistani propaganda website... i thought you had 'real' proof you know like an AP report or Time article (like this post links to a TIME article)...
Umm.. he is officially under 'house arrest'.. The guy who admits to selling nuclear weapons, techs and everything else is not on trial, his govt. is not on trial but he is on house arrest and their govt is some kind of an ally...
Of course Pakistani government was involved in selling nuclear technology.. nobody believes he acted alone.. my point exactly that Pakistan should be confronted over this nonsense..instead of us looking the other way and trying to sweep this under the rug.
and please dont insinuate AQ Khan got his ideas from US... India and Pakistan both were assisted by myriad agencies (French, german, british and in Pakistan's case China) to develop nuclear weapons.. India got there way before Pakistan did (in 1970s).. When Pakistan was trying to build a lab, India wanted to bomb the site at Kahuta (ala Israel) but the plans were put on hold after Indira was assassinated by terrorists. No subsequent government (Indian or US) has had the balls to confront Pakistan as Indira Gandhi did.
Please do not try to misrepresent facts...
Of course, it would be apostasy to suggest that Bush, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are collaborators. Now, THAT is ironic.
"Which is ironic, in that it will put the man who was ultimately in charge of the intelligence agency that was pulling Al Qaeda’s strings prior to (and post) 9/11 in the country that furnished most of the hijackers - and both Musharraf and the Saudi rulers are staunch Bush allies."
Yeah, the political life of a would-be empire is full of irony, isn't it? The U.S. is attacked by a group of hijackers from Saudi Arabia, lead by an Egyptian, trained and financed by a Saudi of Yemeni ancestry, from a country lead by the Taliban who were originally trained and armed by the CIA,and were being propped up by the Pakistani intelligence service. So, naturally we'd have to go and attack IRAQ in retaliation for that, and threaten IRAN who was actually offering to help at the time.
The only thing that's more ironic is that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are training all the terrorists, while their governments are supposed to be our 'allies.' That's sort of like the FOX network's drama division produces the most racy TV shows ever to hit the airwaves, while the FOX news talking heads do nothing but bloviate about the moral degeneration of America, lead by all the sex that's on TV.
TheEnticer @ 3:
How would you suggest they be confronted? (This is an honest question, not sarcasm.) Trade sanctions is about the only thing I can think of. Except that trade sanctions from one or two countries accomplish nothing, and it's impossible to get any multinational organizations like the U.N. to put in trade sanctions over a covert government policy like terrorism. Georgians and Russians rolling tanks into South Ossetia may be brutal, but at least it's official. We all remember, however, from the bad old days of the cold war, that a country's unofficial support for terrorist organizations is impossible to stop with any of the standard political remedies.
I envy Pakistan - at least they had the balls to do what needs to be done here - impeachment charges on our president.
Musharraf resigning is not a good thing for the United States. In fact, it's a disaster.
Watch for the real games to begin now.
The world is on the brink.
Does that mean Obama gets to send envoys there...since he's Muslim?
If only it were that easy to get rid of our Prez.
Please remind us again what standard of evidence you are using to say "most of the hijackers" were Saudis.
e.t. @ 15:
I agree with you. Although it could be orchestrated for many obvious reasons. The next phase of the War on Terra.
You see...had we had a truly investigative media, DEM leadership with some balls, and some integrity within the DOJ we might have gotten a "resignation" of this whole darn administration with a real THREAT of impeachment. No coverage of the points made by Bruce Fein and Elizabeth Holtzman (?) at a Senate hearing a few weeks ago suggesting that merely submitting an impeachment inquiry could lead to the required impeachment charges when BUSHCO refused to submit the relevant information requested. Sounded simple to me...and I've seen it NOWHERE!!!!!
Dancer @ 20:
Translation: If our entire political system wasn't fixed, we wouldn't be screwed.
But it is fixed and we ARE screwed.
let's thank the british for their exceptional skill in drawing boundaries for nations that guarantee perpetual conflict.
let's also thank those americans who believe in their 'manifest destiny' to rule whatever the fuck they survey.
let's thank the american sheeple for watching the tube and ted stevensen's 'tubes' rather than getting up and defending their republic.
and lastly, but not leastly, let's thank the rest of the world for being nice enough to ride out the culmination of the prescott/george hw/george w boosh legacy with us lazy stoopid americans.
as another CIA prop falls from the international scene, as the russians demonstrate to america that there are limits to the provocation they will tolerate, as america ponders yet another stoopid preznitwit, let us give thanks for the possibility that the oil wars will destroy civilization before oil consumption pollutes us to death.
no one will pay for their crimes.
not musharraf
not bin laden
not the boosh crime family
e.t. @ 15:
E.T., why do you hate democracy?
it's a sad day when the Pakistani government can put that much pressure for the president to resign but here in the US our spineless congress cant even get people to testify let alone impeach the president.
Anyone who aligns themselves with the Toxic Texan goes down in flames.
Yes, it's quite clear that the Saudis are pulling the strings behind the curtain, which makes me feel better already:
http://www.asecondlookatthesaudis.com
Musharraf is reportedly planning to become a lobbyist and join the McCain campaign.
Musharraf is slipping away before that civilian government starts turning over the rocks. Under those rocks are his complicity, along with Director Mahmood Ahmed and his ISI, in the "attacks" on 9-11. The Bushie neo-cons need him out of office now.
Rough and tough dictator resigns under the threat of impeachment! How can it be that a country like Pakistan suddenly looks more democratic than the USA? Impeach Nancy!
It's just too damn bad that the same standards and pressure applied in Pakistan do not apply to the Bush administration. Otherwise the Bush thugs would be LONG GONE AND IN PRISON.
Damn ! just as he was about to capture Iman and Osama too...So how does Cheney I mean Bush negotiate this new twist ? Good thing for the Pakistanis they aren't saddled with Pelosi who'd have taken the whole thing off the table. If this new regime isn't with us are they against us ? I also wonder if this means their secret service will stop supporting anti American jihadists and tipping off people we are trying to hit with missiles...
Gee why didn't he take option 2, the hanging? Would have been a much grander exit for him.
Look out! Here comes the "October Surprise"!
"There’s little doubt that his Western allies have pressured him to accept a deal, seeking to keep Pakistan a little more stable at a time when it seems in danger of falling apart at the seams."
Am I the only one who thinks he was pressured less to ensure the stability of Pakistan, and more to avoid a situation where he might reveal information that is politically dangerous to his so-called Western allies. House arrest. . .protective custody. . . political assylum. . . six of one or half dozen of the other the end result is the same.
Sorry for cross posting, but this Really Pisses Me Off...
I do believe BushCo gave Musharraf, not Pakistan, but Musharraf, Billions of our tax dollars, that is Billions with a "B" and that is plural as in more than one billion.
So dumb ass tax payer me would like to know:
WHERE'S THE MONEY????
Is this just another good investment made in our national interest by the dumbest Preznit ever?
Not surprisingly this is a third rail issue for the Mainstream Media. Very little coverage and no background, much as the mysterious story of Aafia Siddiqui which most Americans know nothing about, though it is headlines worldwide and is somewhat connected to the demise of Musharraf, the final straw.
I am evious of Pakistan in that they have done what we cannot do but should. Pak, India, Australian papers are suggesting that Pervez may be tried for treason and not allowed to leave. Even that his son took bounty money for Aafia.
Jamie @ 36:
thanks for that note.
Assata Shakur comes to mind. A blast from the past, literally.
“what will Mushie do next?”
We need to be more concerned about who takes over this nuclear power.
You know he's thinking: "Damn! I never should have traded the uniform for the suit!"
For those who are not aware - the current civilian government in Pakistan is mostly comprised of elements who, during the 90s encouraged the Taliban and helped to nurture AQ. That government was considered rogue by the state department at the time and IMHO there is no reason to imagine that anything has changed for them.
Thanks to the US policy on Pakistan during the last 8 years of neglecting the civilian infrastructure while at the same time indiscriminately supporting the military with virtuallly no oversight, it is going to be a very very difficult place in the world for the next POTUS.
I'm just sayin, bro.
Good riddance. Let this be a lesson for all dictators that democracy prevails in the end no matter which Super power fills the wind in your sails. An important lesson for U.S. Administrations - present and future that support to dictators does not work.
TheEnticer @ 7:
No, the U.S. is just involved in spying on its citizens, making war on people that haven't attacked us and driving more than a million refugees out of Iraq, as well as killing (in all likelyhood,) a million Iraqis. Does it really make that much of a difference whether you kill people for an ethnicity versus a nationality? I don't think so.
.
Oh, to be as brave as Pakistan...
Got IMPEACHMENT?
.
What a fucking waste of the legislatures time to pursue impeachment at this late date. Get off this horse! Screw impeachment - try prosecution.
BaScOmBe hearts Lara Logan and Rachel Maddow @ 22:
"
Yes. We will.
.....Look out! Here comes the “October Surprise”!.....
It's frightening to read comments about an October Surprise but I have faith that no such thing will take place. Do you really believe the Democrats would be this far along in their campaign if they thought they would have to give it all up for an October surprise? This is nonsense.
branti @ 42.. I think you are missing the "cause and effect " effect... anyway you can not club everyone you dont like or agree with in one class... Life is not a Dumas novel.. Not everything bush does is bad... Personally I would have supported the war if it was launched against Saudi Arabia and Pakistan...
Pericles @ 13:
HOw about stopping the billions of $$ in aid that are sent in return for their 'cooperation' or how about not giving them the latest arms and ammunition which only ends up in the hands of the terrorists.. During the Kargil war, the terrorists (pakistani army regulars dressed as terrorists) used shoulder fired stinger missiles to bring down Recon IAF aircraft...
Dont sell them F16s or for that matter any nuclear capable arms... That could be a start..
Despite all this aid, they dont love us down there you know..
Oh shit, Chimpy's favorite military dictator is out of a job!
hey! how come I didn't get credit for posting here?! I did the "breaking" alert in the previous thread.
well this may not be good for us in the long run from where i see it
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