Here is the dialogue from the transcript over on CNN [
“And the reason Pakistan — the popular opinion of America had diminished in Pakistan was because we were supporting a dictator, Musharraf, had given him $10 billion over seven years, and he had suspended civil liberties. We were not promoting democracy.”
As far as I know Musharaff in some cases was PREVENTING militant terrorists and THEOCRATIC TYRANTS from taking over the country and turning it into another Iran. As I recall Musharaff actually helped pass legislation that gave women MORE rights - particularly when it came to things like rape accusations... Again, I would have to re-educate myself because it’s been over a year since I looked into that particular point, but regardless, Obama is WRONG. The COST of NOT supporting Musharraf was losing Pakistan as even a “lukewarm” ally because Al Qaeda backed militants and terrorists were constantly trying to take over his country, and to let them have control of nuclear weapons is INSANITY!
Not to mention that US pressure had a lot to do with Musharraf agreeing to elections. The current gov’t there knows this and is generally, although I would not say enthusiastically, our ally. In other words, the end result of the Bush policies turned out ok... at least so far. Obama talking about marching in there to get Osama does more harm than this naive junior senator can imagine.
Musharraf also cooperated in reigning in Pakistan’s exportation of nuclear arms technology, and THAT is one heck of a lot bigger item than temporary swings in whether the average Pakistani “likes” us.
One thing to note carefully is that Obama said he’d go into Pakistan to get Osama if the Pakistanis were unable or unwilling to do so. Think about that: The Pakistanis have been (understandably) pretty protective of their territory. If the Pakistanis are UNWILLING to go get Osama, and we go in there anyway, we could easily be in a shooting war with Pakistan. And Obama thinks IRAQ was a mistake???
I remember having a conversation, regarding this very subject, with a Pakistani college student hubby and I mentored. He wasn't real fond of Musharraf, but he admitted that he (Musharraf) had done a good job of fending off the radical Islamists that Pakistan has battled, seemingly, forever.
Now, I am worried about Pakistan. They seem to be teetering on the edge of a knife. Although the new government seems intent on fighting radicals, they don't seem to know how to go about it. I hope I'm wrong.