What are the thoughts on yesterday's turn of events? Anybody else think this looks like Pakistan's Nixon? Anybody want to expand the topic?

There is a huge difference between him and Nixon.

Cat, I can't believe you don't remember when Nixon was the top General in the U.S. army and held a coup in the U.S.. You don't remember him jailing judges from the Supreme court who questioned the legitimacy of his presidency? How about the time the U.K. told Nixon about the terrorists taking refuge in the U.S.. Don't you remember how Nixon refused to do what it took to root them out because of terrorist sympathizers within his own administration? I hate to say it but Learning Newbies spot on the money with his assessment here.

I think that if you thought Musharraf was a limp noodle ally, just wait. I think that the US spent so much time pandering to Musharraf they dropped the ball on exploring other potential political alliances, and should have known fully well what was waiting in the wings. That's going to force the US to play hardball with any new administration when it comes to dealing with the territories on Afghanistan's border. That's not a favorable situation, especially when you add the instability in the former Soviet republics to the north and the threat of a new-and-improved Soviet Union, ready to make its own alliances.

tim

Bhutto was ready to let us deal with the border provinces ourselves. Her husband seems lined up to take her spot, though I doubt her agenda will be carried out, at least in that regard.

Originally Posted by cbwm

Cat, I can't believe you don't remember when Nixon was the top General in the U.S. army and held a coup in the U.S.. You don't remember him jailing judges from the Supreme court who questioned the legitimacy of his presidency? How about the time the U.K. told Nixon about the terrorists taking refuge in the U.S.. Don't you remember how Nixon refused to do what it took to root them out because of terrorist sympathizers within his own administration? I hate to say it but Learning Newbies spot on the money with his assessment here.

Alright I'll make the list...

1. Nixon - Dead; Musharraf alive.
2. Nixon - American; Musharraf not.
3. Nixons' favorite football team was the New York Giants; Musharrafs' favorite football team is not a football team but a soccer team.
4. Nixon looks a lot like my Uncle (no lie); Musharraf looks like one of the guys the CIA is looking for.
5. Nixon was not Jewish and... well, we will skip that one.

shall I go on? I did not think so.

I'm just waiting to see how long Pakistan continues to be an ally with us. The religious hardliners in Pakistan have been dying to gain power and drive us away, and now they have an in.

Originally Posted by cbwm

Cat, I can't believe you don't remember [and so on] him jailing judges from the Supreme court who questioned the legitimacy of his presidency?

Switch "presidency" to "agenda" and you have the Bush Junior administration firing US attorneys for upholding the law. But that's not my question.

If you don't see the similarity between two presidents being forced to resign in shame because impeachment would otherwise be certain, well, I'd recommend some glasses.

Anyway, the similarity in that regard is close enough to leap out at me without having to actually think of it. More like stubbing your toe. But I was asking for the kind of response Mister Tim gave, about what this means?

How do you see this in relation to the India nuclear question? Bush is falling over himself with desperation to give India nuclear weapons. (Ahem, make that civilian nukes, like the civvy nuke detonation test India ran last time.) India and Pakistan aren't exactly friendly.

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

How do you see this in relation to the India nuclear question? Bush is falling over himself with desperation to give India nuclear weapons.

Ummm, last time I checked, India already had an active nuclear weapons program of their own. Did I miss something on the news about this?

But people of Pakistan are divided in celebrating the exit of Musharraf and he has his own followers. Time only will tell how good the regime under Mush was when the new government went ahead with its business.

For a guy who seized power by force to relinquish it by means of peace says something good about him. Bhutto's assassination tells you something about how leaders who would bring that country forward will be dealt with. With Iraq winding up, I'd say this war is as likely to spread into Pakistan as anywhere. Lets hope the new "Elected" leadership gets behind it before they turn themselves into a nuclear Palestine.

Originally Posted by cbwm

For a guy who seized power by force to relinquish it by means of peace says something good about him.

I have to admit, you're right there.

So do you think he'll be exiled to Saudi Arabia, or to England?