http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/02/20/after-democratic-defeat-what-next-for-musharraf/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:45:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/02/20/after-democratic-defeat-what-next-for-musharraf/comment-page-1/#comment-693368 Across the Aisle » Taking the long view in Pakistan Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:59:07 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/02/20/after-democratic-defeat-what-next-for-musharraf/#comment-693368 [...] Last week Raj Purohit wrote that now that the Pakistani electorate has clearly rejected the status quo that it is time for Musharraf to step aside.  While I agree that the long term outlook for Pakistan would be much improved if Musharraf were listen to the will of the electorate, I think that we all must admit that the likelihood of him stepping down is fairly remote.  Although Musharraf’s party lost the parliamentary elections, thanks to his stacking of the court, he claims that he still legally can remain in power.  Until Musharraf loses the confidence of the military, we’re likely to see him in power for the foreseeable future.  No, I’m not happy with that reality, but I also recognize that US policy towards Pakistan is unlikely to force Musharraf from power.  If we focus our attention primarily on the removal of Musharraf, I fear that we are setting ourselves up for failure.  [...] [...] Last week Raj Purohit wrote that now that the Pakistani electorate has clearly rejected the status quo that it is time for Musharraf to step aside.  While I agree that the long term outlook for Pakistan would be much improved if Musharraf were listen to the will of the electorate, I think that we all must admit that the likelihood of him stepping down is fairly remote.  Although Musharraf’s party lost the parliamentary elections, thanks to his stacking of the court, he claims that he still legally can remain in power.  Until Musharraf loses the confidence of the military, we’re likely to see him in power for the foreseeable future.  No, I’m not happy with that reality, but I also recognize that US policy towards Pakistan is unlikely to force Musharraf from power.  If we focus our attention primarily on the removal of Musharraf, I fear that we are setting ourselves up for failure.  [...]

]]> http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/02/20/after-democratic-defeat-what-next-for-musharraf/comment-page-1/#comment-684226 Welcome | Project on Middle East Democracy Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:46:49 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/02/20/after-democratic-defeat-what-next-for-musharraf/#comment-684226 [...] Free Press News Services quotes Senator Joseph Biden, who sees the election results as a chance to reshape U.S. policy: “This is an opportunity for us to move from a policy that has been focused on a personality to one based on an entire people.” The Christian Science Monitor urges the U.S. to use this opportunity to assist the country, arguing for more non-military efforts aimed at economic development. The International Herald Tribune calls on Bush to quickly reach out to Pakistan’s newly elected parliamentary leaders, many of whom resent the United States for its uncritical support of Musharraf, while others like Raj Purohit at Partnership for a Secure America, urge Bush to ask Musharraf to “quickly leave the scene.” [...] [...] Free Press News Services quotes Senator Joseph Biden, who sees the election results as a chance to reshape U.S. policy: “This is an opportunity for us to move from a policy that has been focused on a personality to one based on an entire people.” The Christian Science Monitor urges the U.S. to use this opportunity to assist the country, arguing for more non-military efforts aimed at economic development. The International Herald Tribune calls on Bush to quickly reach out to Pakistan’s newly elected parliamentary leaders, many of whom resent the United States for its uncritical support of Musharraf, while others like Raj Purohit at Partnership for a Secure America, urge Bush to ask Musharraf to “quickly leave the scene.” [...]

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