Cheney’s ‘close’ ally Musharraf declares martial law.
Cheney’s ‘close’ ally Musharraf declares martial law.
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf today declared “emergency rule,” resulting in the suspension of the nation’s constitution, dismissal of the Supreme Court’s chief justice, and severe restrictions on independent and international media. The New York Times reports:
The emergency act, which analysts and opposition leaders said was more a declaration of martial law, also boldly defied the Bush administration, which had repeatedly urged General Musharraf to avoid such a path and instead move toward democracy. Washington has generously backed the general, sending him more than $10 billion in aid since 2001, mostly for the military. Now the administration finds itself in the bind of having to publicly castigate the man it has described as one of its closest allies in fighting terrorism.
In June, the Washington Post reported that “Pakistan policy is essentially being run from Cheney’s office. The vice president…is close to Musharraf and refuses to brook any U.S. criticism of him.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
This is very, very, very bad news, to say the least.
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:43 pmDon’t you just know that George Bush is jealous of Pervez Musharraf right about now?
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:45 pmIt’s all a ruse. Cheney is pulling every string. He is the one who called to the issuance of Martial Law at this time.
Don’t believe anything you read in the media on this topic.
The martial law plan is being put into place globally by David Rockefeller and his ilk…and it’s just a matter of time before it reaches your doorstep.
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 pmPlunger, I’ve come to the conclusion you’re simply outta yer f-in’ mind.
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:54 pmSuch steps taken by self appointed president of Pakistan will not help the current political climate neither in Pakistan nor in neighboring Afghanstan.
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:57 pmAmerican silence in the face of all what is happening now inside Pakistan will only mobilize opponents who are now selling the idea that Musharraf is nothing but a US puppet.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071103/pakistan/
“His emergency order accused some judges of “working at cross purposes with the executive” and “weakening the government’s resolve” to fight terrorism.”
Sound familiar?
Coming soon to a country near you.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:06 pmPlunger, I’ve come to the conclusion you’re simply outta yer f-in’ mind.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — November 3, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
Thanks for defining yourself. We’ll all get to see how things turn out, and remember your comment.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:08 pm1.
This is very, very, very bad news, to say the least.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity —
We need to begin impeachment proceedings before it is too late.
Kucinich says he will force House vote on Cheney impeachment
Kucinich said he plans to introduce a privileged resolution, which would have priority for a House floor vote, on Nov. 6. A vote on the measure would be required within two days.
Call Congress:callcongress.org
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:09 pm“The United States “does not support extraconstitutional measures,” Rice said”
Anyone buying that line?
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:11 pmSo what???
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:15 pmWe have been under an emergency rule for 7 years now!! With the whole package including the suspension of our Constitution.
Pakistan is just following the model. And alrady got paid with out taxes, too.
#8: We need to begin impeachment proceedings before it is too late. – – You’re joking, right? The Democrats in Congress are as half-hearted as putting a bumper sticker on the inside of a car.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:16 pmScariest part is that I know it’s just a matter of before this happens here.
NSPD-51 – private contractors – Military Commissions Act
Tell everyone…
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 pmNovember 3rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
A FRIGHTENING REALITY:
Senators and Congressman – now POWERLESS.
State’s Rights and Governor’s Authority – GONE.
Torture – LEGAL.
Habeas Corpus – HISTORY
Martial Law – IMMINENT
New Law Signed By George Bush Allows Easier Martial Law
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/10/348233.shtml
In a stealth maneuver, President Bush has signed into law a provision which, according to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), will actually encourage the President to declare federal martial law (1). It does so by revising the Insurrection Act, a set of laws that limits the President’s ability to deploy troops within the United States. The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C.1385), helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush is seeking to undo those prohibitions.
Public Law 109-364, or the “John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007″ (H.R.5122) (2), which was signed by the commander in chief on October 17th, 2006, in a private Oval Office ceremony, allows the President to declare a “public emergency” and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities, in order to “suppress public disorder.”
President Bush seized this unprecedented power on the very same day that he signed the equally odious Military Commissions Act of 2006. In a sense, the two laws complement one another. One allows for torture and detention abroad, while the other seeks to enforce acquiescence at home, preparing to order the military onto the streets of America. Remember, the term for putting an area under military law enforcement control is precise; the term is “martial law.”
Section 1076 of the massive Authorization Act, which grants the Pentagon another $500-plus-billion for its ill-advised adventures, is entitled, “Use of the Armed Forces in Major Public Emergencies.” Section 333, “Major public emergencies; interference with State and Federal law” states that “the President may employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States, the President determines that domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of (”refuse” or “fail” in) maintaining public order, “in order to suppress, in any State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.”
IMPEACH IMMEDIATELY – STATE BY STATE – IMPEACH!
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:30 pmWhy is it that everytime this administration wants to promote democracy it ends up doing just the opposite.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:31 pmWith “friends” like these …
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 pmWhy is it that everytime this administration wants to promote democracy it ends up doing just the opposite.
Comment by Xisithrus — November 3, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Because the ONLY thing this administration wants to promote is a Fascist dictatorship.
They just talk the talk for public consumption while doing precisely the opposite.
If you want to know what they’re really up to, it’s easy to sort out. Just listen to what they say – and consider what the extreme opposite would be.
There you have it.
Fascist Dictatorship.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:37 pm“The general” isn’t called “Busharaff” for nothing.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:40 pmEverything going on in Pakistan is staged.
Last week, when the bombing “nearly” killed Bhutto, she had been on the roof of her vehicle for two hours, but the bomb didn’t go off until immediately after she climbed into the safety of her armored vehicle.
Are you a coincidence theorist, or is that just a bit too cute?
They create conflicts which require resolution.
Peace does not provide for manipulation or profit.
Only chaos does.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:42 pmWe’ll all get to see how things turn out, and remember your comment.
Comment by plunger — November 3, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
“Defining myself”??? “We”??? “WE” There’s more of you???
Heaven help us all… he’s not alone…
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:44 pmMe not so sure the capitalistic pricks truly in control of the administration will allow more than a 3 day blockage of anyone from the stores. Just think what happened after the elective home “inprisonment” we went through after 9/11, and the Precedent’s first words to the public. “Go out and shop.” How long do you think the fascists will let them get away with keeping everyone in their homes.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:44 pmPULEEZE, they may WANT to see it happen here, and I suspect Pakistan is just like torture. It is REALLY done to show others.
I do not believe that Musharraf would have risked this without the US’s nod. The very last thing he would risk is a visit from Freedom & Democracy but we shall see.
In affairs of this scale, “even the accidents don’t happen by accident”.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:45 pmThe very last thing he would risk is a visit from Freedom & Democracy but we shall see.
Comment by Abby — November 3, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
What do we have to go w/? We’re stretched too thin as it is. This is a very, very, very bad place to find ourselves in.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 pmFolks remember the “Freedom is on the march”BS ?Is it any wonder why it’s diapppeared from his solganeering.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:56 pm“The United States “does not support extraconstitutional measures,†Rice saidâ€
Anyone buying that line? — Plunger
*************************
Nope, not even for a moment — given that the Bush administration hasn’t let the US Constitution stand in their way much so far, although they haven’t gone quite as far as this…
Mr. Pot, say hello to Mr. Kettle…
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 pmThis is a trial run. The Bush dictatorship is testing the publics will over there.
The events in Pakistan in the weeks to come will determine if our dictator will try to impose such nonsense on us.
Watch the Pakistanis closely, you will observe, that a democracy is not easily broken.
Like we will and have been for seven years the Pakistanis will stand up against the dictator.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm“Cheney’s ‘close’ ally Musharraf declares martial law.”
Don’t get any ideas Cheney.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:38 pmBush sure knows how to pick ‘em.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:57 pmwow… that’s some wicked spinning coming from the wingers…
what took the troolls so long to get here?
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:03 pmwell, i suppose it WOULD take all day to talk themselves
into those delusional ideas… pretty crazy…
…
#25 — Did you mean Mr. Pot, as in Pol Pot?
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:08 pmTrolls defending Musharraf!!!
Hahahahahahahahaha.
And then they talk sh*t about Chavez, President of Peru. ;)
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:09 pmMusharraf: Pakistan on ‘Verge of Destabilization’
By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad 03 November 2007
Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution. In a nationally broadcast address, he partly blamed the judiciary for bringing Pakistan to what he called “the verge of destabilization.” VOA’s Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that Mr. Musharraf’s critics say the move undermines democracy and will inflame militants.
[...]
http://voanews.com/english/2007-11-03-voa23.cfm
it’s obvious what his reasoning is:
The Supreme Court was expected to deliver a verdict in the coming days in a case that could overturn President Musharraf’s unofficial re-election last month. Mr. Musharraf has sworn in a new group of senior judges, including a new Supreme Court chief justice. He issued a provisional constitutional order that suspended some fundamental rights. And a new press ordinance bans publication of news about terrorist bombings and material that disrespects the head of state.
the fear of losing total control and power will do that to ya…
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:16 pm…
What Plunger posted isn’t so far fetched. If he had made the same statement 20 years ago – I’d have blown him off as a fringe political nutjob. Now, I think many people share his conclusions (if not his particulars) regarding the state of our rights under the Constitution. The idea that suspension of the Constitution is even a possibility in my and many other’s minds, is enough to show just how far Cheney, Chumpy, and the rest of the cabal have gone in testing the reaction of the People to having their rights abridged.
Our shit is not together.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:18 pmyea juan, i thought that peculiar also…
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:18 pmdissing cheeeney’s soul mate? … that could be hazardous…
.
expect that all news we hear from this for the next week is untrue.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:22 pmafter a week, some truth (accidentally) might seep in.
dissing cheeeney’s soul mate? … that could be hazardous…
Comment by katy
Monday I will ask a Paki PhD student at the lab what he thinks about the situation. He is in the military, so I wont expect a fair answer but at least a more inside POV will be nice.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 pmAll staged. Every act occurring in every country that has Bushites and Neo-Cons in some position of power.
Like Panama was a trial run for Gul War 1, and Gulf War 1 was a trial run for Afghanistan, and Afghanistan was a tryout for Iraq, and Iraq was a test for Iran.
Your sons and daughters are dying, The Constitution is in shreds and who is pulling these strings and benefiting?
GE
Lockheed
Haliburton
Exxon Mobil
Boeing
AIPAC
Likud
Fundamentalist Christians
Fundamentalist Muslims
Saudi Oilmen
Zionists
Cowboys
China
World Bank
Federal reserve
Now I notice a lot of Left Gatekeeper and Right Wing NeoCon attacking of certain people on this board. We know there are planted disruptors, taking both sides of the issue. So, someone unnamed will bash the crap out of Bush, but then turn around attack someone who is pointing out the AIPAC influences on foreign policy, who questions 9/11 anomalies.
With the recent Feinstein/Schumer treasonous actions, and Hilary beating war drums against Iran, I think the time is to look outside of Democrat and Republican.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:31 pm15. Why is it that everytime this administration wants to promote democracy it ends up doing just the opposite.
Comment by Xisithrus — November 3, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
I have some guesses:
*) It is patently illogical to mandate democracy.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:43 pm*) Are we supporting democracy or supporting our own shallow interests ?
*) We take actions without the belief that anyone else could have different ideals from ours.
.
.
Comment by Brain From Planet Arous
That was a great post. I almost agree with you completely.
My thinking is that you are right on the money, with some exception…the people. People have this obnoxious vice of getting together and fight for their rights. Governments know this, that’s why we have a tremendous amount of propaganda over us, all the time in order to keep consuming and thinking we have a representative democracy.
So, it is very likely that Musharraf is grasping to the choices he has at hand, meanwhile US and Russia and China are already playing with the opposition to see how their interests accommodate in the resulting situation. My only concern would be at which extent the people of Pakistan are influencing the fall of Musharraf.
November 3rd, 2007 at 11:53 pmSo is this is all part of George Bush’s plan to spread Democracy throughout the Middle East?
November 4th, 2007 at 12:06 amSo, it is very likely that Musharraf is grasping to the choices he has at hand, meanwhile US and Russia and China are already playing with the opposition to see how their interests accommodate in the resulting situation. My only concern would be at which extent the people of Pakistan are influencing the fall of Musharraf.
Comment by Juan C. — November 3, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
The people are always an X-Factor because no matter how much a think tank will theorize about “Dancing and Throwing Flowers”, they cannot predict exponential factors such as insurgencies and Vietnam protests. So, doe the Pakistani people have any control? I have been thinking that Musharaff is near the end of his dictatorship (Another Right Wing despot, propped up by the USA). What will India and Israel do if the Taliban takes over Pakistan? Will the USA fight another war there? We will find out in the coming months.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:25 amAs I said earlier, Pakistan’s got nukes. If the Taliban takes over Pakistan, the Taliban gets nukes.
Indian snake charmers can kiss their asp goodbye.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:37 amBriseadh, as crazy and deluded and extremists as the Taliban may be, they wont use a nuke. There is this self-preservation thing.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:46 amReal quick like.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — November 4, 2007 @ 12:43 am
It certainly would appear so. This is incredibly scary shit. I’ve been telling people for years that Pakistan was by far the more dangerous situation in the ME. Bad, bad, bad news.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:47 amThere is this self-preservation thing.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 12:46 am
I’m not convinced…
November 4th, 2007 at 12:49 amI’m not convinced…
Comment by Zooey
Then just let me work my magic on you, Zoo. :)
Statistically, how many deluded regimes have used nukes against its enemies? I mean, not even the Israel extremists would use against Arabas.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:52 amThen just let me work my magic on you, Zoo. :)
Well, it is still my birthday on the west coast. ;)
Statistically, how many deluded regimes have used nukes against its enemies? I mean, not even the Israel extremists would use against Arabas.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 12:52 am
This is the Taliban. They are batshit insane.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:55 amThere is this self-preservation thing.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 12:46 am
That works against countires, ya know, w/ fixed locations that can’t run off and hide, but what about network-like organizations, w/ no centralized location to attack, like Al Quaida? This is bad, bad, bad…
November 4th, 2007 at 12:56 amThis is the Taliban. They are batshit insane.
Comment by Zooey
I agree.
However, launching a nuke is not a decision that you would it because you are a crazy or in a schizophrenic episode. It is a calculated, well-thought application of the deadliest weapon known.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:59 amIt is a calculated, well-thought application of the deadliest weapon known.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 12:59 am
Um, like Bush wants to nuke Iran?
November 4th, 2007 at 1:02 amThat works against countires, ya know, w/ fixed locations that can’t run off and hide, but what about network-like organizations, w/ no centralized location to attack, like Al Quaida? This is bad, bad, bad…
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
Seriously, who would think of launching a nuke against the US?
So maybe one is crazy, and the others go…yeah, yeah, let’s do it. The leaders of these movements are not crazy at all, if they were they will end up burning in a Waco-type event. The leaders of these movements made alliances with other organizations, made pacts with Banks in Switzerland, move people via known means… come on.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:03 amIt is a calculated, well-thought application of the deadliest weapon known.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 12:59 am
You have more faith in human nature than I do.
By the way, hear anything about this new storty that the US was in on the the bombing in Syria back in September?
November 4th, 2007 at 1:03 amUm, like Bush wants to nuke Iran?
Comment by Zooey
I really thinks he uses (he is told to use that line) because it makes feel good to all the frustrated people around that cheer civilian deaths.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:06 amI really thinks he uses (he is told to use that line) because it makes feel good to all the frustrated people around that cheer civilian deaths.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 1:06 am
Oh lordy, it’s not getting better…
November 4th, 2007 at 1:10 amTRoS, I have seen soemthing in antiwar.com.
Now, I cant find it.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:13 am#28.
The jackasses in Pakistan causing martial law to be imposed aren’t interested in democracy. They are looking to replace Musharraf with their own fanitical Islamic dictator….possibly bin Laden himself.
Comment by Tracy2 — November 3, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
I agree Tracy2, while bush is looking at Iran, Pakistan has a bunch of Islamic fanatics with an extreme hatred of the United States wanting to get their hands on some nukes.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:20 amNow, I cant find it.
Comment by Juan C. — November 4, 2007 @ 1:13 am
Google “US” & “Syria” & “bombing” and you’ll get it. Scary sh*t…
I notice that even TP hasn’t at least mentioned it. Is it true?
November 4th, 2007 at 1:36 amWhere is Bush’s strong condemnation of what happened in Pakistan??? Is he going to say something now??
This is the type of democracy we paid for with our taxes? BUSHIT!!
I want my MONEY BACK!!!
I bet that explosion on Bhuto’s arrival was not orchestrated by terrorist groups; it may well have been Musharaf’s welcome to her.
November 4th, 2007 at 2:11 amThis guy wrote a book and went on a press junket including an appearance on The Daily Show.
November 4th, 2007 at 3:16 amFREE SPEECH IS THE GREATEST FEAR OF FASCISTS AND DICTATORS…
COMING SOON TO AMERICA:
After a day of rumors in the Pakistani news media than an emergency declaration would come, the first proof came just after 5 p.m., when independent and international television news stations abruptly went blank in Islamabad and other major cities. Soon after, dozens of police officers surrounded the Supreme Court building, with some justices still inside.
Under the emergency declaration, the justices were ordered to take an oath to abide by a “provisional constitutional order†that replaces the country’s existing Constitution. Those who failed to do so would be dismissed.
Seven of the court’s 11 justices gathered inside the court rejected the order, according to an aide to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Issuing their own legal order, the justices called General Musharraf’s declaration unlawful and urged military officials to not abide by it.
By 9 p.m., Chief Justice Chaudhry and the other justices had gone to their homes, which were surrounded by police officers. The police blocked journalists from entering the area, disconnected telephone lines and jammed cellphones in the area.
Several hours later, the state-run news media reported that three justices generally seen as supporting General Musharraf had taken an oath to uphold the emergency measure. And it was announced that Mr. Chaudhry had been replaced by a pro-government member of the Supreme Court bench, Abdul Hamid Doger, as chief justice.
Just after midnight, General Musharraf appeared on state-run television.
Wamiq Zuberi, director of Aaj TV, one of the independent stations blacked out on Saturday, said the government had also issued two new orders sharply limiting news coverage.
The orders prohibit coverage that “brings into ridicule or disrepute†General Musharraf and other officials, he said. They also ban the publication of statements from terrorist groups, as well as photographs of suicide bombers or their victims. Violators face up to three years in prison.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/world/asia/04pakistan.html?pagewanted=2&bl&ei=5087&en=46d7fabbd6c9fbea&ex=1194321600
November 4th, 2007 at 3:17 amBRUCE goes straight into the heart of the Rockefeller / GE mind control machine and blows it up, live on the Today Show:
http://www.americablog.com/
GO BRUCE!
November 4th, 2007 at 3:28 amOpposition leaders arrested in Pakistan
November 04, 2007 01:20 EDT
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf is continuing to cement his grip on power, arresting more opposition activists.
Among those taken into custody Sunday are the president of the opposition party and ten of his aides. Police have also arrested six lawyers and the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, according to media reports.
Ignoring warnings from the U.S., Musharraf suspended Pakistan’s constitution Saturday, saying he’s being forced to take emergency action because of rising Islamic extremism. He says not taking action would have meant “suicide for Pakistan.”
As part of his decree, he’s replaced the nation’s top judge and blacked out media that had refused to support his bid for a new term. TV news networks remain off the air but phone service that had been cut off appears to be working again.
Soldiers are guarding barbed-wire barricades around the Supreme Court and Parliament.
The U.S. is urging a return to democracy, although the Pentagon says the situation does not affect America’s military support for Pakistan in the war on terror.
http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.international/3c0a60e1-www.wlos.com.shtml
November 4th, 2007 at 3:38 amCompare the soft treatment the Bushies give to Musharraf’s closing down tv stations that may criticize his islamic dictatorship to their dishonest rhetoric about Hugo Chavez closing down a tv station that promoted a coup d’état.
Chavez is an elected president who took action against a station promoting illegal activity. Dictator Musharraf took action against stations opposed to his illegal activities.
November 4th, 2007 at 5:57 amFrom the excellent article in National Geographic from Sept. 2007.
Classic Blowback
the Margalla Pass.,a limestone cliff in the middle of Pakistan, the mountainous west meets the Indus River Valley, and two ancient, and very different, civilizations collide.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:00 amtwo conflicting forms of Islam meet: the relatively relaxed and tolerant Islam of India, versus the rigid fundamentalism of the Afghan frontier.
IN December 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded neighboring Afghanistan, driving hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees—mainly conservative Pashtun tribesmen—across the border into Pakistan. Within months Zia’s Islamist dream got a huge boost: The United States and Saudi Arabia joined Pakistan in a covert alliance to supply arms, training, and billions of dollars to an anti-Soviet insurgency in Afghanistan. The motto of Zia’s army—Jihad in the Service of Allah—became a rallying cry for thousands of mujahideen training in camps funded by the CIA in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province.
If Zia wanted to Islamize Pakistan while mobilizing support for the anti-Soviet jihad, all the more power to him. Besides, the fundamentalist madrassas of northwestern Pakistan made excellent recruiting centers for mujahideen—young fighters who saw the struggle against the Soviets as a holy war.
From the CNN article:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/04/pakistan/?iref=mpstoryview
excerpts:
“Ironically the President, who has lost his marbles, said that he had to clamp down on the press and the judiciary to curb terrorism,” Jagangir wrote. “Those he has arrested are progressive, secular minded people while the terrorists are offered negotiations and cease-fires.”
Under the constitution, Musharraf was ineligible for run for another term while serving both as president and military leader.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Imran Khan told CNN early Sunday that police surrounded his house in Lahore and informed him that he was under house arrest.
Musharraf also had Khan placed under house arrest during a government crackdown in March 2006. Khan said he was accused of public disorder because of his participation in public protests.
“It was all expected,” Khan said of Musharraf’s address, before the former cricket star was placed under house arrest. “We expected General Musharraf to say that militancy and terrorism was on the increase and that he had no choice.
“A senior Pakistani official told CNN the emergency declaration will be “short-lived,” and will be followed by an interim government. Martial law is only a way to restore law and order, he said.”
Musharraf complained in his speech that the media, which he made independent, have not been supportive, but have reported “negative” news.
The media have been barred from printing or broadcasting “anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive,legislative or judicial organ of the state.” Any newspaper or broadcaster would face fines and license revocation if they violate the new order.
The new law also forbids news anchors or moderators to express any opinion that is “prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or integrity of Pakistan.” Broadcast equipment could be confiscated by police for any violation.
Early Sunday, two dozen policemen raided the offices of AAJ-TV in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, saying they had orders to confiscate the station’s equipment. There were no reports of injuries.
Talat Hussain, director of news and current affairs for AAJ, said the government had just issued a directive warning the media that any criticism of the president or prime minister would be punishable by three years in jail and a fine of up to $70,000.
end
This, despite the fact that there was no “lawlessness” in the streets?
This is merely a test run, folks. The real thing is coming to Amerika.
Find new ways to publicize your concerns to the masses.
Find new ways to pressure your elected officials.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:12 amI don’t think that Cheney has that much to do with Musharraf’s decision to declare ‘marshal law’ and suspends the Pakistani Constitution.
His decision came after the Supreme court of Pakistan was about to make a decision on his electability of last election where he won with huge numbers over 90%.
He is trying to survive in the face of huge disapproval of his presidency.
He did not care before…but the resistance to his regime became increasingly militant, so he took those decisions to survive.
But how long can he control the television stations,the newspapers,the courts in a big country like Pakistan…that will remain to be seen.
If Cheney has any thing in common with Musharraf..it is to survive in the face of huge disapproval by people.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:24 amWhile methods may vary,but the goal remains is surviving of the regime.
November 3, 2007 at 06:58:31
Former high-level officials challenge the conventional explanation of how and why the Twin Towers came down.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_richard__071103_former_high_level_of.htm
A 2,000 word article, Seven CIA Veterans Challenge 9/11 Commission Report, appeared September 23, 2007 in OpEdNews. (Link provided below.) The article details severe criticism of the 9/11 Commission Report by seven CIA veterans and calls for a new investigation. Here follows a brief quote or two from several of the individuals whose testimony is included in the article:
Ray McGovern, former Chairman of the National Intelligence Council and 27-year CIA veteran: “The 9/11 Report is a joke.” “It has long been clear that the Bush-Cheney administration cynically exploited the attacks of 9/11 to promote its imperial designs. . . (And there is) evidence for an even more disturbing conclusion: that the 9/11 attacks were themselves orchestrated by this administration precisely so they could be thus exploited.â€
Robert Baer, 21-year CIA veteran and specialist in the Middle East, was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal upon his retirement in 1997. During an interview by Thom Hartmann, Baer, after commenting on the financial profits being made from 9/11, was asked: “What about political profit? There are those who suggest that someone in (the U.S.) chain of command had pretty good knowledge that 9/11 was going to happen — and really didn’t do much to stop it — or even obstructed efforts to stop it because they thought it would lend legitimacy to Bush’s failing presidency.†Baer replied: “Absolutely.†Hartmann then asked, “So you are personally of the opinion that there was an aspect of ‘inside job’ to 9/11 within the U.S. government?” To which Baer replied, “There is that possibility, the evidence points at it.” When Hartmann continued, “And why is this not being investigated?†Baer replied, “Why isn’t the WMD story being investigated? Why hasn’t anybody been held accountable for 9/11? We held people accountable after Pearl Harbor. Why has there been no change in command? Why have there been no political repercussions? Why has there been not been any sort of exposure on all this? It really makes you wonder.”
Robert David Steele has 25 years of combined service in the CIA and the U.S. Marine Corps. Second ranking civilian in U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence from 1988 – 1992. Member of the Adjunct Faculty of Marine Corps University. His comment: “I am forced to conclude that 9/11 was at a minimum allowed to happen as a pretext for war. “I’m absolutely certain that WTC 7 was brought down by controlled demolition. There’s no way that building could have come down without controlled demolition.”
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/print_friendly.php?p=genera_alan_mil_070922_seven_cia_veterans_c.htm
Additional statements questioning the official account of 9/11, and calls for a new investigation, by hundreds of high-level military officers (now retired) and other highly-credible individuals, can be found at http://PatriotsQuestion911.com
November 4th, 2007 at 8:27 amCheney was in the Washington bunker, while Bush was at the school. He was in command. Scholars for 911 Truth point out
http://www.scholarsfor911truth.org/
that Secretary of Transportation, Mineta Confirm this. Others point out he was also conducting numerous military drills that day that did confuse land workers.
Mineta’s testimony is devastating,” observed James H. Fetzer, Ph.D., McKnight Professor at the University of Minnesota. Fetzer is the founder and co-chair of the scholars’ society, which recently joined with Judicial Watch in calling for release of documents, films and videos, and physical evidence withheld from the public by the administration. “It pulls the plug on the Commission’s contention there was no advance warning that the Pentagon was going to be hit.”
According to Secretary Mineta’s testimony, which is in the public domain, when he (Mineta) arrived at an underground bunker at the White House (known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center), the Vice President was in charge. “During the time that the airplane was coming in to the Pentagon”, he stated, “there was a young man who would come in and say to the Vice President, ‘The plane is 50 miles out.’ ‘The plane is 30 miles out.’
“And when it got down to, ‘The plane is 10 miles out,’” Mineta continued, “the young man also said to the Vice President, ‘Do the orders still stand?’ And the Vice President turned and whipped his neck around and said, ‘Of course the orders still stand. Have you heard anything to the contrary?’” One way to construe these remarks could be that the orders were to shoot down the plane.
The scholars suggest that that is an implausible interpretation. The Pentagon, they observe, may be the most heavily defended building in the world. If the orders had been to “shoot it down,” then no doubt it would have been shot down. Moreover, there would have been no apparent reason for the young man to have expressed concern over whether or not “the orders still stand.” Shooting it down, under the circumstances, would have been the thing to do.
“The only reasonable interpretation of the orders,” Fetzer observed, “is that the incoming aircraft should not be shot down, which would have been an obvious source of anxiety for an aide. Since it contradicts the official story about the Pentagon,” he added, “it had to be suppressed and was not even included in The 9/11 Commission Report.” And other scholars, including Professor David Ray Griffin of Claremont Graduate University, have drawn the same conclusion.
November 4th, 2007 at 8:38 amCompare the soft treatment the Bushies give to Musharraf’s closing down tv stations that may criticize his islamic dictatorship to their dishonest rhetoric about Hugo Chavez closing down a tv station that promoted a coup d’état.
Chavez is an elected president who took action against a station promoting illegal activity. Dictator Musharraf took action against stations opposed to his illegal activities.
***********************
This surprises you, does it?
It shouldn’t. The Bush administration has demonstrated more than once that they have a distinct capacity for selective attention — they find it easy to wax on at length about the faults of certain world leaders (Ahmadinejad, Chavex, Hussein, etc.) while to all appearances choosing to remain blissfully unaware of similar faults in others. Musharaff is one example of the latter — another is Islam Karimov, leader of Uzbekistan. Karimov became the leader of Uzbekistan in 1990 as a result of a faulty election and has maintained power through pseudo-elections which even the US has acknowledged were neither free nor fair. He is considered to be one of the most autocratic leaders in Central Asia. He has no tolerance for dissent. has a stranglehold on the media, and the United Nations has reported that the use of torture in Uzbekistan is “institutionalized, systematic, and rampant” — there are reports, for example, of prisoners being boiled to death. Has Bush allowed any of this to dissuade him from allying himself with Karimov so that we can use their military base in the War In Iraq? Do you ever hear him include Karimov in the list of world leaders whom he accuses of wrongdoing? Surely you jest!!!!!!!
November 4th, 2007 at 9:02 amany credible news from pakistan this brisk morning?
November 4th, 2007 at 9:35 amSo what else is new? Our government has a long history of sending money in support of dictators and then when the dictators stop doing what we wont’ we call them terrorists and put a price on their head. Only this time, the dictator has nuclear weapons. Hummm… wonder how the dumbf**ks in the White House will handle this one.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:37 amPakistan not only has NUkes…but over 150 million people. That’s about HALF of the U.S. population.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:50 amOnly one: the United States of America.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:41 amOBL’s followers, TCDon? You mean Bush and cheney? No surprise there.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:57 amA journalist to Bush:”Did you talk to Musharraf since he declared ‘marshal law”?
November 4th, 2007 at 11:00 amBush: “Indeed I did, I have learned a lot from him; he gave me a valuable experience ,as an ally, on how to start a ‘marshal law’..”
Mushareff’s actions fall under a legal gray area and certainly hasn’t gone as far as all you hysterics believe it has.
Try taking a closer look at his who his decision affects instead of concentrating on the term “martial lawâ€.
Comment by Fletcher Morgantown — November 4, 2007 @ 11:07 am
bullshit. There is no legal “gray area” in this case, unless you’re talking about a dictatorship, in which case, there is no law except what the tyrant wants. You have no idea what you’re saying.
November 4th, 2007 at 11:17 amTCDon,
November 4th, 2007 at 11:19 amHow ya doing? Weren’t you the one suggesting the CA fires were the work of ecoterrorists trying to make evidence for global climate disruption? How’s that all working out for you? Sorry to be off topic but I hadn’t seen you around sine a child, a downed powerline, and some construction workers had been the only confirmed causes to date.
TCDon and the other rightard lemmings can see all kinds of conspiracies except the one that has stolen our country from us. Proof that home-schooling is inferior.
November 4th, 2007 at 11:27 amOT (cyber-war). In a special Internet announcement in Arabic, picked up by counter-terror sources, Osama bin Laden’s followers announced Monday, Oct. 29, the launching of Electronic Jihad. On Sunday, Nov. 11, al Qaeda’s electronic experts will start attacking Western, Jewish, Israeli, Muslim apostate and Shiite Web sites. However, shortly after the first announcement, some of al Qaeda’s own Web sites went blank, apparently crashed by the American intelligence computer experts tracking them. The next day, Oct. 30, they were up again, claiming their Islamic fire walls were proof against infidel assault. The electronic war they have declared could cause considerable trouble on the world’s Internet.This could get interesting.
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=4723
Comment by TCDon — November 4, 2007 @ 10:51 am
there is no “OBL”
Pure US Government psyops designed to set us up for the fact that they are fed up with too much truth telling, and will soon be shutting down the www to coincide with their imposition of martial law.
November 4th, 2007 at 11:31 amTCDon,
November 4th, 2007 at 11:49 amIt is pronounced dbadass. Of course I am familiar with ELF and the Family so I will skip the research. I assume you are also familiar with innocent until proven guilty. As to the arson linked fires, I guess we will have to wait and see. Maybe we are talking about firefighters, They have been linked to multiple arsons as well. Will you be suprised if that turns out to be the case?
I have concerns about the path Chavez is heading down. Hopefully he will stop short of becoming a dictator, for even a benevolent dictator is still a dictator.
That said, Chavez is using his country’s oil wealth to help the poorest of his citizens.
America uses its wealth to help the richest of its citizens.
November 4th, 2007 at 11:57 amOk, Fletcher, give us your legal opinion. What is the legal gray area you speak of? What is the law you cite?
Who are the people his decision affects? Hint: Pakistan’s Supreme Court Justices, political opponents and the media.
If you’re going to put forth some expertise in the law, you better be able to back it up, for you see, I am a lawyer, with some background in International Law.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:01 pmdon’t tase musharraf, bro!
November 4th, 2007 at 12:17 pmcan’t we all just get along, ignore all troubles in pakistan, and focus our attention on iran like we’re supposed to? hey look over there: hugo chavez!
Will Chavez be assisting low income folks in the States with home heating oil again this year? That cracks me up while simultaneously helping those whom need it.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:23 pm“Pakistan police on Sunday began a roundup of 1,500 lawyers, judges, and political activists on a list of people to be arrested “
now all musharraf has to do is suspend habeas corpus and hold those 1,500 people indefinitely; then the transition to a successful bush-style democracy will be complete. feel the surge!
November 4th, 2007 at 11:26 am“Pakistan police on Sunday began a roundup of 1,500 lawyers, judges, and political activists on a list of people to be arrested “
now all musharraf has to do is suspend habeas corpus and hold those 1,500 people indefinitely; then the transition to a “successful” bush-style “democracy” will be complete. feel the surge!
November 4th, 2007 at 11:28 amIs this a trial run for the US?
November 4th, 2007 at 12:35 pmThere is an interesting and chilling article by Naomi Wolf in the Guardian, “Fascist America, in 10 easy steps.” Writtten in April of this year. I read it this morning – I am sick.
November 4th, 2007 at 12:44 pmI believe it is from her book,”The End of America: A Letter of Warning.”
What is happening now in Pakistan can happen here – the groundwork is done; it’s a matter of time with Bush//Cheney.
Was just listening to Fred Thompson on Meet the Press as he dodged making any concrete assertions regarding our next steps with Musharrif, now that he’s declared martial law. Aside from saying “it’s a difficult decision,” he offered no policy changes, nor showed any independence from the administration’s boilerplate. When pressed about the level of US funding going to Pakistan, he tried to fall back on “Well, Tim, we shouldn’t interfere with another internal affairs,…” demonstrating that while inable to think of (or espouse), any tangible solutions, he could remain on- (administration) message. His pronouncements regarding the way forward in Iraq were similarly cliche’d, circa about 2005. Although he tried to spice it up with a little “O’Hanlon Shit-Sandwich Spread,” by implying that after O’Hanlon’s recent dog-and-phony show-trip to Iraq, there is now some sort of intellectual concensus about the situation vis-a-vis Beltway Insiders and Iraqmire, he relied on anecdotal stats provided by Bushnaut backgrounders – meaning the data was old, and cherry-picked. If Fred Thompson is the R-nominee, they will have a character in the Bush mold: a tin-plated conservative, who’ll say anything to win.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:14 pmSorry for the ital., something’s on the fritz; either my comp, or TP.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pmIf Fred Thompson is the R-nominee, they will have a character in the Bush mold: a tin-plated conservative, who’ll say anything to win.
Comment by barfly — November 4, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Although I agree, I can not really see him becoming the nominee. He seems to have the lethargy of the a Bob Dole candidacy. Sort of a three toed sloth on his day off sort of deal
November 4th, 2007 at 1:25 pmAs it turns out, the Santiago fire and at least one other was caused by arson.
Comment by TCDon — November 4, 2007 @ 11:29 am
As it turns out, you’re a pthological liar, and this just proves it. Proof of the ineffectiveness of home-schooling, except to turn morons into wingnuts.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:32 pmDick Cheney deserves his first name, the last politician with the Tricky-Dick moniker was run out of office by a Responsible Congress.
November 4th, 2007 at 4:31 pmOhg.
http://thefireside.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/dick-cheney-misunderestimating-power/