Bush Now Praises Musharraf: "Hasn't Crossed The Line" And "Believes In Democracy"

President Bush yesterday offered his strongest support of embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, saying the general "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy."

Bush spoke nearly three weeks after Musharraf declared emergency rule, sacked members of the Supreme Court and began a roundup of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists. Musharraf's government yesterday released about 3,000 political prisoners, although 2,000 remain in custody, according to the Interior Ministry.

The comments, delivered in an interview with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson, contrasted with previous administration statements -- including by Bush himself -- expressing grave concern over Musharraf's actions. In his first public comments on the crisis two weeks ago, Bush said his aides bluntly warned Musharraf that his emergency measures "would undermine democracy."

Read entire story here.

Comments

[serialcoma]

bush knows nothing about... well, anything. Democracy included.

george w. bush is a threat to the United States.

[helonias]

Almost as much as the Saudies.

And I hold their hands all the time and know about such things.

[whoopingcrone]

well, !u$h keeps saying he, !u$h, also "believes" in democracy.

[Dap]

++

Pardon the Turkey...

Not Bu$h!!!

[IntelligentDesign]

Bush has never met a line that he did not cross, it's a sport to him - his parents failed to teach him right from wrong and he has carried that forward as a badge of honor - and our nightmare rolls on.

[speakingtruth2power]

Of course that would be Bush's opinion, he's an outright fascist dictator himself!

[VivaZapata]

i used to argue that he wasn't stupid, that he attempted a good ol' boy persona with his brush clearing, phony texas accent and tell 'em what they wanna hear speeches (if you can call them that), and it's not that I think he doesn't know better about the kind of pint sized creep musharraf is, but how stupid can you be when more subtle lies failed and then you say something as outrageous as this? What's next? The neocons have this propaganda strategy where if they name something the opposite of what it is, like the Patriot Act, people will be accepting. They had some success, but being the out-of-control power fiends that they are, they never know when to stop. I think, however, this time they are underestimating the average American's intelligence. Big time.

[gappytoofcondi]

Bush is truly General Custer in Little Big Man.

[ZHarris]

President Pervez Musharraf "hasn't crossed the line"

is a very scary statement indeed. I wonder if Bush has plans to round up thousands of journalists, opponents and Supreme Court justices as part of his planned state of emergency.

I'm afraid Bush maybe taking notes. (or at least Condi Rice is)

[jesuswazasocialist]

Come on Mr Bush what are you smoking, have you not seen the brutal crackdown on Pro Democracy protestors in Pakistan? We would never see US lawyers taking to the streets for Democracy, like we have seen them do in Pakistan in recent days.

Mr Bush your just worried that those pesky Islamists will get their hands on one of those nukes. And you believe that while you have Musharraf in power that that will not happen, I hope your right.

[wsblake]

And I don't doubt for a minute that he believes what he's saying. Of course the only problem is, that Bush's "democracy" means totalitarianism to anyone with a brain or a conscience-

[timregler]

I'm sure in Bush's eyes Musharaff is a great guy. But then, Bush's doesn't believe that HE'S crossed the line either.

[Dap]

==

Giving grace this Thankgiving...

I am SOooooooo greatful and full of hope to know next year at this time We, the People shall have a new President elect, and our national nightmare will soon be over.

John Edwards 08

John Edwards understands what Grace is.

[vapaday]

Bush's comments and support for Musharaff certainly dont echo the tenets of Democracy. Perhaps Mr. "democracy" Bush should address:
Sacking of the Supreme court and loading it with his supporters
Placing the opposition under house arrest
Throwing thousands of dissenters in prison
Suspending the constitution
And we criticize Cuba and Venezuela!
Perhaps our esteemed media, in their infinite wisdom, will call Mr. Bush out, or are they just spineless?

[SaintZak]

I'm beginning to believe every hour on the hour Bush pops out of a charming clock to make one of these profound statements.