CINCINNATI (TDB) -- House Republican leader John Boehner has declared himself a leading advocate for sending more military aid to Pakistan's Musharraf. Boehner, an Ohio congressman from Butler County, says the $10 billion already sent to support the war on terror has been "well spent." Others see Musharraf as a questionable ally -- vice President Dick Cheney met with the Pakistani strongman last winter and urged him to take more action against terrorist havens inside Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's tribal areas still remain a haven for al-Qaeda, and the Taliban are destabilizing Afghanistan from bases in Pakistan. The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate issued in July (full text available at the link) warned al-Qaeda has reconstituted itself in Pakistan. The report calls Osama bin Laden's movement once again a serious threat to the U.S. homeland. That report came out prior to the NIE saying that Iran had no active program to develop a nuclear weapon.
Showing posts with label Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Show all posts
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
OH-12 U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi: That's Him Shaking Musharraf's Hand
COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The photo appeared on Pat Tiberi's official House Web site after the Ohio Republican met with Gen. Pervez Musharraf in September. The picture was snapped at the Pakistani strongman's office in Islamabad. This is what the cutline said:
"Meeting with Pakistan's President
Congressman Tiberi and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf greet each other before their September meeting. Members of Congress and the Pakistani President spoke about Pakistan's role in the War on Terrorism."
Tiberi travelled with a congressional delegation led by House Minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican who represents Ohio's 8th Congressional District.
The Daily Bellwether located the picture in a Google cache. It no longer seems to be available in the photo gallery on Tiberi's House site. Perhaps it was removed after Musharraf declared a state of emergency last weekend, dissolved the constitution and began rounding up political opponents. Maybe Tiberi now is embarrassed to have been caught on camera gripping and grinning with Musharraf. Maybe he wants to distance himself from the general whose imposition of emergency rule has left thousands jailed and Pakistan's chief justice under house arrest.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Ohio's John Boehner: Recently Met Musharraf In Pakistan
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- House Minority Leader John Boehner led a congressional delegation to Islamabad six weeks ago. The visitors from Washington huddled with Pakistan's strongman, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and publicly praised him as a rock solid ally in the war on terror. There is no mention, though, that Boehner, R-8, or anyone else in the House delegation urged Musharraf to refrain from despotic conduct, or warned him against dictatorship. Boehner is now telling conservative bloggers that he's absolutely "shocked" Musharraf declared martial law this week. The general seized absolute power by dissolving democratic institutions that tried to put the brakes on Pakistan's slide into military dictatorship.
There was an active pro-democracy movement in Pakistan at the time of Boehner's visit. It seems to have been ignored by the Americans. Here's what Justin Higgins reported in Right on the Right about what Boehner told the bloggers in a conference call after the general imposed martial law:
"I've got real concerns about what Musharraf is doing. He's been an important ally to us, and Pakistan has been an important ally in the War on Terrorism . . . I am shocked by the actions he's taken. I am hopeful he will restore the Constitution and put Pakistan back into democratic rule as soon as possible."
Others in the delegation were U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, a Columbus area Republican, and Charles Wilson, a Democrat who represents eastern portions of the state near the Ohio River.
How could Boehner -- or anyone for that matter -- be shocked that the general seized power? Musharraf became Pakistan's president in October 1999 by leading a military coup. The general, who headed the Army at the time, overthrew a democratically elected government. Boehner surely had to know that Musharraf had autocratic tendencies.
The Pakistani general has this account of his Sept. 15 meeting with Boehner and the Congressional delegation on his official presidential web site. There is nothing there that indicates Boehner or the others pushed him away from dictatorship. Instead, Musharraf's account said everyone emphasized his partnership with the U.S.
"The members of the Congressional delegation underscored the importance the US attached to its partnership with Pakistan and the desire to expand cooperation in diverse fields. The delegation expressed appreciation for the President's commitment to fight extremism and terrorism and recognized Pakistan's contribution to counter-terrorism efforts. The delegation also noted the sacrifices of Pakistani security personnel in this endeavour. They said there was a need for better mutual understanding and avoiding elements that could cause difficulties in the relationship."
Boehner issued this statement when he landed in Pakistan, which was about fighting terror and not about democracy for the people of that nation.
"It is important that we continue consistent, coordinated efforts with others in the international community to defeat Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists who have declared war on us. Without question, our relationship with Pakistan is at the forefront of this strategy, and I will reaffirm to President Musharraf the importance of his country's cooperation in the face of a determined enemy."
There was an active pro-democracy movement in Pakistan at the time of Boehner's visit. It seems to have been ignored by the Americans. Here's what Justin Higgins reported in Right on the Right about what Boehner told the bloggers in a conference call after the general imposed martial law:
"I've got real concerns about what Musharraf is doing. He's been an important ally to us, and Pakistan has been an important ally in the War on Terrorism . . . I am shocked by the actions he's taken. I am hopeful he will restore the Constitution and put Pakistan back into democratic rule as soon as possible."
Others in the delegation were U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, a Columbus area Republican, and Charles Wilson, a Democrat who represents eastern portions of the state near the Ohio River.
How could Boehner -- or anyone for that matter -- be shocked that the general seized power? Musharraf became Pakistan's president in October 1999 by leading a military coup. The general, who headed the Army at the time, overthrew a democratically elected government. Boehner surely had to know that Musharraf had autocratic tendencies.
The Pakistani general has this account of his Sept. 15 meeting with Boehner and the Congressional delegation on his official presidential web site. There is nothing there that indicates Boehner or the others pushed him away from dictatorship. Instead, Musharraf's account said everyone emphasized his partnership with the U.S.
"The members of the Congressional delegation underscored the importance the US attached to its partnership with Pakistan and the desire to expand cooperation in diverse fields. The delegation expressed appreciation for the President's commitment to fight extremism and terrorism and recognized Pakistan's contribution to counter-terrorism efforts. The delegation also noted the sacrifices of Pakistani security personnel in this endeavour. They said there was a need for better mutual understanding and avoiding elements that could cause difficulties in the relationship."
Boehner issued this statement when he landed in Pakistan, which was about fighting terror and not about democracy for the people of that nation.
"It is important that we continue consistent, coordinated efforts with others in the international community to defeat Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists who have declared war on us. Without question, our relationship with Pakistan is at the forefront of this strategy, and I will reaffirm to President Musharraf the importance of his country's cooperation in the face of a determined enemy."
Monday, November 05, 2007
Bush In Cleveland Last Summer: Gen. Musharraf Is My Buddy
CLEVELAND (TDB) -- There is a long exchange between President Bush and a Pakistani he encountered in Ohio that is posted today on the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Bush got a question from the Pakistani at the Cleveland Inter-Continental during a whirlwind visit four months ago and said of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, "I like him."
That line is haunting, and may become the seminal statement in a foreign policy disaster. It was uttered before the strongman declared martial law, before Musharraf began to jail political opponents, fired the Supreme Court justices and dissolved democratic institutions by declaring a state of emergency Sunday. Today, Bush is urging his pal Gen. Musharraf to take off the military uniform and restore freedoms. Is it real? Or wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan there are clashes and protests in the streets, and it now appears that the American president got in bed with an Islamic militarist with dictatorial inclinations. A tough spot for Bush, who sent U.S. troops to topple Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq -- an invasion that was supposed to bring democracy to an Islamic nation.
From the Embassy's portal, here's a bit of what Bush said July 10 in downtown Cleveland about his pal, Gen. Musharraf:
''Pakistan, by the way is a -- Musharraf is a strong ally in the war against these extremists. I like him and I appreciate him. I'm, of course, constantly working with him to make sure that democracy continues to advance in Pakistan. He's been a valuable ally in rejecting extremists. And that's important, to cultivate those allies.
"See, again, I repeat to you -- and this is hard to some Americans to understand -- we are at the beginning of a major ideological struggle that will affect the security of the United States. And it's a struggle between moderation and extremists. It's a struggle between radicals who kill and rational people who want to live in peace."
So Musharraf is a strong ally against those extremists? He now looks like a tinhorn despot. The word banana republic comes to mind. But Pakistan isn't in Central America. There is a certain Woody Allen Bananas sense to the reports that Bush wants Condi Rice to call Musharraf and tell him to ditch the uniform. After all, as Bush said in Cleveland, "I like him."
Make you wonder, who doesn't he like?
That line is haunting, and may become the seminal statement in a foreign policy disaster. It was uttered before the strongman declared martial law, before Musharraf began to jail political opponents, fired the Supreme Court justices and dissolved democratic institutions by declaring a state of emergency Sunday. Today, Bush is urging his pal Gen. Musharraf to take off the military uniform and restore freedoms. Is it real? Or wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan there are clashes and protests in the streets, and it now appears that the American president got in bed with an Islamic militarist with dictatorial inclinations. A tough spot for Bush, who sent U.S. troops to topple Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq -- an invasion that was supposed to bring democracy to an Islamic nation.
From the Embassy's portal, here's a bit of what Bush said July 10 in downtown Cleveland about his pal, Gen. Musharraf:
''Pakistan, by the way is a -- Musharraf is a strong ally in the war against these extremists. I like him and I appreciate him. I'm, of course, constantly working with him to make sure that democracy continues to advance in Pakistan. He's been a valuable ally in rejecting extremists. And that's important, to cultivate those allies.
"See, again, I repeat to you -- and this is hard to some Americans to understand -- we are at the beginning of a major ideological struggle that will affect the security of the United States. And it's a struggle between moderation and extremists. It's a struggle between radicals who kill and rational people who want to live in peace."
So Musharraf is a strong ally against those extremists? He now looks like a tinhorn despot. The word banana republic comes to mind. But Pakistan isn't in Central America. There is a certain Woody Allen Bananas sense to the reports that Bush wants Condi Rice to call Musharraf and tell him to ditch the uniform. After all, as Bush said in Cleveland, "I like him."
Make you wonder, who doesn't he like?
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Pakistan's Musharraf And The Cleveland Clinic: They Use The Same D.C. Lobbyist
CLEVELAND (TDB) -- Pakistani strongman Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspended the Constitution and declared martial law in a desperate effort to hang onto power in an increasingly unstable Muslim nation that has a small stockpile of atomic weapons. Those events are unfolding a long way from Ohio. But the general's military government does have something in common with several important institutions in this state --it uses the same D.C. lobbying firm, Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. Van Scoyoc registered as a foreign agent for Pakistan and was paid $310,000 for the first six months of 2006, federal records show.
There is another interesting tie between Van Scoyoc and Ohio: U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette's spouse, Jennifer, is a lobbyist with the company that represented Pakistan. Her name turns up on the company's list of employees here.
The Northeast Ohio Republican, R-14, could find himself in an awkward political spot if the U.S. government cuts off Musharraf, an ally in the war on terror whose declaration of martial law Sunday defied the Bush administration. Washington has sent Pakistan about $10 billion in military aid since 2001, and had been urging Musharraf to move towards democracy. Instead, the general went the other way and began jailing political opponents.
The lobbying firm's Ohio clients are blue chip as this list shows. It includes Bowling Green State University, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Inc., Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Hiram College, the University of Akron and the University of Toledo.
Musharraf's government hired Van Scoyoc for legal and other services. The firm reported that it "monitored, advised and evaluated legislative issues and arranged meetings with U.S. Government officials to discuss issues affecting the Government of Pakistan."
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There is another interesting tie between Van Scoyoc and Ohio: U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette's spouse, Jennifer, is a lobbyist with the company that represented Pakistan. Her name turns up on the company's list of employees here.
The Northeast Ohio Republican, R-14, could find himself in an awkward political spot if the U.S. government cuts off Musharraf, an ally in the war on terror whose declaration of martial law Sunday defied the Bush administration. Washington has sent Pakistan about $10 billion in military aid since 2001, and had been urging Musharraf to move towards democracy. Instead, the general went the other way and began jailing political opponents.
The lobbying firm's Ohio clients are blue chip as this list shows. It includes Bowling Green State University, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Inc., Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Hiram College, the University of Akron and the University of Toledo.
Musharraf's government hired Van Scoyoc for legal and other services. The firm reported that it "monitored, advised and evaluated legislative issues and arranged meetings with U.S. Government officials to discuss issues affecting the Government of Pakistan."
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