Whoever would have thought that muslim governments cant be trusted with nuclear weapons.???
Whoever would have thought that muslim governments cant be trusted with nuclear weapons.???
November 07, 2007 at 11:55:5 PST
Negroponte: Musharraf Is 'Indispensable'
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By ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told Congress on Wednesday that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is an "indispensable" ally in the U.S.-led war on terrorism and that "partnership with Pakistan and its people is the only option."
In prepared testimony, Negroponte also told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that administration officials "strongly disagree" with Musharraf's crackdown on his political opponents.
"We strongly counseled against emergency rule, but Pakistan's leadership did not follow our advice," Negroponte said.
His remarks echoed the Bush administration's position in the days since Musharraf declared emergency rule: a mild and measured response, careful not to go too far in rebuking a close anti-terrorism ally. It stands in sharp contrast to the administration's tougher stance taken when Myanmar's military regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters in September, for instance.
While he acknowledges an ongoing review of U.S. aid to Pakistan in light of the crisis, Negroponte does not announce any changes to U.S. policy.
Musharraf "has been indispensable in the global war on terror, so indispensable that extremists and radicals have tried to assassinate him multiple times," Negroponte said. "The bottom line is, there's no question that we Americans have a stake in Pakistan."
Negroponte also urged Musharraf to follow through with commitments to convene elections and relinquish his position as Army chief.
"The current state of emergency calls into question these commitments, but we should work to achieve their fulfillment, not pre-emptively write them off," he said.
Negroponte faces a skeptical Democratic-led Congress. Many lawmakers say the U.S. should consider cutting off foreign aid to Pakistan and that Musharraf shouldn't be so readily praised.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, planned to offer a resolution condemning Musharraf's actions, while others said military aid should be withheld.
"We have the worst of all possible worlds," said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., who chairs the panel's subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia. "Our ally is an isolated and deeply resented leader who is less popular with his own people than Osama bin Laden."
The White House on Wednesday defended its handling of the situation, which erupted on Saturday.
"It's been about five days," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "I grant you that it feels long for all of us who are interested in wanting to get instant reaction. We are trying to get Pakistan back on its path to democracy."
The Bush administration has been reviewing U.S. aid to Pakistan in the wake of Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule. Musharraf says his actions, which include suspending his country's constitution and ousting its top judge, were necessary to prevent a takeover by Islamic extremists.
The Bush administration is seeking $800 million for Pakistan for the current budget year. Since 2001 the U.S. has provided Pakistan with an estimated $9.6 billion.
At the Pentagon, a senior officer on the Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters that the U.S. military puts great value in its relationship with the Pakistani military and does not want to see that diminished.
"First and foremost is the cooperation along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs. "Those military operations, conducted by forces on either side of the border, are done with increasing openness, collaboration, synchronization. There's good communication between U.S. and Afghan forces on the one side and the Pakistan forces on the other. And we would certainly not want to see that jeopardized in any way."
Ham said that U.S. military liaison officers in Islamabad have reported that communication and cooperation with the Pakistani military on operations along the Afghan border have not been affected by the political crisis.
"Those contacts seem to be quite good still," Ham said.
A senior member of Musharraf's legal team said Wednesday that the United States is more worried about fighting terrorists than about seeing democracy flourish in his country.
Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri, an advocate at Pakistan's Supreme Court, also warned the U.S. that "we expect from our friends advice, not dictation. We are a sovereign country."
"Do we ask for a checklist from the United States, 'Why did you go to Iraq? Why did you go to Afghanistan?'" he said at the Middle East Institute. "The United States, instead of dictation, they should give us friendly advice."
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AP Military Writer Robert Burns contributed to this story.
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Paks taking the fight to Waziristan .
(Pakistani)Intelligence Agencies launch major crackdown against terrorists
Thanks E.
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Benazir Bhutto has issued an "ultimatum", in the wording of the BBC, warning Pervez Musharraf that she plans to demonstrate on Friday against his rule by emergency decree. Telling Pakistanis that "We are under attack," Bhutto hopes to generate a large enough protest to get Musharraf to reverse the decree and restore democracy -- but perhaps not large enough to dislodge him entirely: