Pakistan - Musharraf resigns

[dancing-loon]

President Musharraf of Pakistan Resigns

Under pressure over impending impeachment charges, President Pervez Musharraf announced that he would resign Monday, ending nearly nine years as one of the United States’ most important allies in the campaign against terrorism.

Facing impeachment, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan said that by resigning, he was putting national interest above “personal bravado.”

“Whether I win or lose the impeachment, the nation will lose,” he said, adding that he was not prepared to put the office of the presidency through the impeachment process.

Mr. Musharraf said the governing coalition, which has pushed for impeachment, had tried to “turn lies into truths.”

“They don’t realize they can succeed against me but the country will undergo irreparable damage,” he said.

Pervez Musharraf forged a personal bond with President Bush, but he proved to be a frustrating customer for the U.S.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought to emphasize continuity with the new leaders of Pakistan on Monday, saying the United States would keep pressing the Pakistani government to battle extremism within its borders. She also thanked Mr. Musharraf for his efforts against terrorism. The president of the Senate, Muhammad Mian Soomro, assumed the office of acting president several hours after Mr. Musharraf’s resignation.

More here... http://www.nytimes.com/# and here http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/world/asia/19pstan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
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This is big news! Who knows what the new government will be like? A better Taliban fighter? Less or more cooperative with the US?
The political landscape in the ME as well as in the Caucasus is like shifting quicksand right now!

 

[Zea Capri]

Musharaf is such a coward.He should have resigned long time ago...anyways he got good response from Mr.Bush.
The day he resigned people literally came on streets in joy and the sweet shops were empty in my city as far as I know.

 

[talloola]

I am very curious to know how Pakistan will behave now, and wonder how they
will approach the Afghanistan situation, things could get very interesting over the
next while.

 

[Zzarchov]

Well, I think its very telling on his part.

The guy who voluntarily stood down to Musharref after admitting he robbed the country blind, returns to power and tells Musharref he's a traitor.

If Musharref where as evil as everyone claims (hell if he were even halfway competant in a coup) he would have hanged this guy 9 years ago.

But unlike most generals turned president, he did bring back democratic elections.

 

[Just the Facts]

I am very curious to know how Pakistan will behave now, and wonder how they
will approach the Afghanistan situation, things could get very interesting over the
next while.

Here's a taste of the direction things are going:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/022320.php

 

[lone wolf]

...and who armed them?

 

[Zzarchov]

China mostly, I mean if we are going to be honest.

But ya, of course American, French and Russian arms are still there too, private enterprises sell where the money is. But the majority of weapons aren't American they are Chinese as Pakistan is a long term ally of China.

But im sure there are probably a few stinger missiles kicking around no doubt.

 

[lone wolf]

I don't suppose you remember when India was shopping about for toys suitable for their primative conditions and lousy economy. Their choice of MiGs and Hines rattled the expensive guy with the high tech toys. Then, when Canada sold India CANDU (whose exhaust can be refined to enriched {weapons grade} plutonium) Pakistan was worried that India was going to blast them to atoms. Opportunity for MONEY presented itself. Guess who created Pakistan's nuclear arsenal (hint ... it wasn't China or Russia)

 

[Just the Facts]

Guess who created Pakistan's nuclear arsenal (hint ... it wasn't China or Russia)

North Korea?

 

[Zzarchov]

Themselves?

I mean seriously, 1940's America built the atom bomb, do you really think a country with the same population, half a century of watching other peoples mistakes and no need to hide their activities (not being a NPT member, like India) can't make their own bomb?

China in the 60's made their own bomb, Israel made their own bombs, India made their own bombs,

It is possible for someone other than America to develop an atomic bomb on their own.

 

[lone wolf]

North Korea?

It's actually pretty much anyone's guess....
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/nuke/chron.htm

 

[Zea Capri]

Well, I think its very telling on his part.

The guy who voluntarily stood down to Musharref after admitting he robbed the country blind, returns to power and tells Musharref he's a traitor.

If Musharref where as evil as everyone claims (hell if he were even halfway competant in a coup) he would have hanged this guy 9 years ago.

But unlike most generals turned president, he did bring back democratic elections.

If Musharaf had been a real good man he would have brought back democracy 9 yrs back.
It is a culture of Pakistan, Army chief coup the Gov. and rob the country as far as he can go.Now Musharaf's time was over, I am dead sure he would have continued in the same way only if he could.The impechment frightened him, the charges were so strong thar his own comarades call him good bye and left him alone.
I don't know why America is projecting him as a good man.Only because he allowed to fight war on terrorism from Pakistani land?

 

[gopher]

Will Musharraf now go on trial for his crimes?

 

[Zzarchov]

If Musharaf had been a real good man he would have brought back democracy 9 yrs back.
It is a culture of Pakistan, Army chief coup the Gov. and rob the country as far as he can go.Now Musharaf's time was over, I am dead sure he would have continued in the same way only if he could.The impechment frightened him, the charges were so strong thar his own comarades call him good bye and left him alone.
I don't know why America is projecting him as a good man.Only because he allowed to fight war on terrorism from Pakistani land?

Impeachement charges? I don't think you understand how they work in Pakistan.

Things he could do to avoid impeachement:

Arbitrarily dismiss anyone who tries to bring the charges against him, immediately. The president of Pakistan (before Musharref) has ALWAYS had that power.

You cannot impeach the president unless you already have him arrested (historically by the army)

Which brings me to point 2.)

The army is still loyal to him, he could just come back to power with another coup.


He didn't because this time the impeachment proceedings are the will of the people and not just the same kleptocrat.

He hasn't robbed anyone, he came to power during a civil war and a very likely ensuing nuclear war with India. I'd say he did pretty well in making the country able to be handed over to a civil government. Its not like Canada hasn't done the same thing in the past during major crisis (or even minor ones).

 

[lone wolf]

Impeachement charges? I don't think you understand how they work in Pakistan.

Things he could do to avoid impeachement:

Arbitrarily dismiss anyone who tries to bring the charges against him, immediately. The president of Pakistan (before Musharref) has ALWAYS had that power.

You cannot impeach the president unless you already have him arrested (historically by the army)

Which brings me to point 2.)

The army is still loyal to him, he could just come back to power with another coup.


He didn't because this time the impeachment proceedings are the will of the people and not just the same kleptocrat.

He hasn't robbed anyone, he came to power during a civil war and a very likely ensuing nuclear war with India. I'd say he did pretty well in making the country able to be handed over to a civil government. Its not like Canada hasn't done the same thing in the past during major crisis (or even minor ones).

Umm ... Z.... The poster is from Pakistan....

 

[Zzarchov]

So? Half the posters here are from Canada and have polar opposite views?

There is also the fact that depending on his age, he might not remember 9 years ago in same way alot of people I work with just turnign 20 have no idea what Im talking about when I say we had a naval showdown with spain out east.

 

[lone wolf]

I think someone who lives the reality probably has a better perspective than someone who goes on what he hears on TV.

 

[Zzarchov]

Well, if he's a Pakistani politician sure,

Otherwise anything he knows about the situation he is ALSO only perceiving what he sees on TV.

Or do you have a better perspective on Canadian politics by watching TV than someone else who watches TV on the matter?

 

[lone wolf]

Have another

 

[Zea Capri]

Impeachement charges? I don't think you understand how they work in Pakistan.

Things he could do to avoid impeachement:

Arbitrarily dismiss anyone who tries to bring the charges against him, immediately. The president of Pakistan (before Musharref) has ALWAYS had that power.

You cannot impeach the president unless you already have him arrested (historically by the army)

Which brings me to point 2.)

The army is still loyal to him, he could just come back to power with another coup.


He didn't because this time the impeachment proceedings are the will of the people and not just the same kleptocrat.

He hasn't robbed anyone, he came to power during a civil war and a very likely ensuing nuclear war with India. I'd say he did pretty well in making the country able to be handed over to a civil government. Its not like Canada hasn't done the same thing in the past during major crisis (or even minor ones).

He was no more an army man,as he resigned from the post of Chief of army staff a few months ago, so coup was not possible.
As far dismissing the parliment; this needs a few charges against it.So the new infant Gov. can not be charged.
Also he was unable to use 17th amendment to resolve the assemblies because of the pressure that my be American or some internal one.
And the point you mentioned that he took over during a civil war is absolutely wrong.Media may be projecting that.The things were much better at that time.The country was at peace and progressing better.Now that a part(nothern) is at war and the whole country is facing suicide bombers daily...It never was like that.