Musharraf (Pakistan) finds fault with Washington

[dArKeR]

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday the US was so deeply involved in joint operations with Pakistan to hunt down Taliban and al-Qaeda militants that it had to take some of the blame when missions failed.

Pakistan has deployed thous-ands of troops along its long, porous border with Afghanistan to hunt Taliban militants from Afghanistan's former regime and the al-Qaeda network blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the US.

But there is opposition in Pakistan's Pashtun-dominated border regions to the crackdown and some critics allege rogue elements in the Pakistani military spy service -- the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) -- sympathize with the Taliban.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/09/27/2003069437

[bemildred]

1. Mushhead should buddy up with Iran.

That would torque some jaws, I can tell you.

If he keeps talking like this, we might decide not to be
his buddy any more.

[sushi]

3. He couldn't resist

the bribe. His decision to become a buddy has put him in danger. He should double the number of his bodyguards.

[LevChernyi]

4. no love lost there at all

He would have about as much luck trying to partner with India.

[bemildred]

5. Yeah, I know, it's not realistic.

But can you see the slack, drooling jaws, the stunned
expressions, the desperate attempts to spin it? Sigh.

[cliss]

2. Talk about biting the hand that fees you.

Musharraf has been turbo-boosted to the top of the heap this past year. Washington has forgiven a huge loan debt, given him F-14 jets (what did they get?), and lots of $dough.

Musharraf went home a happy man when he met with Bush recently, but he came home to the same problems as before he left. Many Muslims in Pakistan do not approve of his friendship with the US. There are radical elements in the country which threaten to undermine him.

Also, he was not elected. He took office through a coup a few years ago. Think of a Geo Metro driving down Interstate I-5, with 2 Freightliner triple-trailer trucks on both sides of him, and you get the picture.