$0:
By on Jan 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
$0:
Amount the Bush administration devoted “to strengthen political parties in Pakistan” in 2006. Much of the $22 million spent on democracy programs went to the Election Commission, which is largely controlled by President Pervez Musharraf. In 2008, the democracy budget was doubled to $41 million — still less than that given to Kosovo. According to U.S. officials, “the administration shied away from building a robust democracy program in Pakistan because it did not want to offend Musharraf.”
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$0: Amount the Bush administration devoted “to strengthen political parties in Pakistan†in 2006. —
- – Maybe Karen Hughes can slap a catchy moniker on it and call it “The Terrorist Abstinence Program” and Bush will fund it to the hilt.
January 6th, 2008 at 4:38 pm“the administration shied away from building a robust democracy program in Pakistan because it did not want to offend Musharraf.â€
If Bush is afraid of offending Musharaff how can he stand up to Al Qaeda?
Oh that’s right, 7 years later and Al Qaeda is still putting out more videos than Dorff.
-GSD
January 6th, 2008 at 4:45 pmHope Musharraf is enjoying OUR TAX DOLLARS!
No wonder Bush is cutting more taxes for the elite. Why should THEY send money to dictators? Let us do it instead. Dictators, Blackwater, Haliburton, shipping containers of USD disappearing. $hit, where do I sign up for being on the corporate dole?
January 6th, 2008 at 4:52 pmThis site is unbelievable. I wrote the work bi*ch in a comment and they wouldn’t post it. Of course, I spelled the word and didn’t place star where the “t” belonged.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:00 pm“This site is unbelievable. I wrote the work bi*ch in a comment and they wouldn’t post it.” — –
Do what most right-wingers do and just substitute “Hillary” for your “B” word.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:04 pmBadmoodman – funny. I was referring to Republicans so maybe I should just place Ann Coulter’s name there instead.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:07 pmYou’re doing a heckuva job, Dubya. Heckuva job.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:10 pmDictators have to stick together…our taxes, our dead.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:41 pmJust like Hamid Kharazei next door democracy in Afghanstan.
At least Musharaf didn’t charge us so much money by comparison to Afghanstan..
We saw what kind of democracy Pakistan has under Musharaf,when he arrested judges and leaders of opposition parties,closed television stations & newspapers,and called for elections that he probably will manipulate. Benazir Bhutto,his biggest opponent,outspoken and popular figure in Pakistan now is history.
Bush still expects a return on his investment from Musharraf in Pakistan. Signs do not indicate any healthy return of democracy coming soon from Musharraf.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:44 pm…And that is just another example of how the USA (not its people!) has been supporting and financing Dictators around the Globe. I grew up under 25 years of ‘military generals’ after ‘military generals’ supported by the USA. In 1964, we had our military coup. The US marines were on our coast making sure that the democratic elected president would go. In the years after that, we got to know how CIA helped to ‘dispear and torture’ political dissidents…
January 6th, 2008 at 5:47 pmThe most glaring example of USA ‘democracy promoters’ is Nicaragua. Negroponte knows all about it. All about financing paramilitary-anti-democrat terrorists in order to crush political dissent and the voice of the Nicaraguan people… if only the people of the United States knew what has been done in their name…
January 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pmBush still expects a return on his investment from Musharraf in Pakistan. Signs do not indicate any healthy return of democracy coming soon from Musharraf.
Comment by tarazan
This assumes democracy is actually what Bush is trying to buy over there.
Personally I don’t think he’s trying to buy democracy there. Or an ally in the War on Terror.
I think he’s just trying to buy an ally in the Middle East. I think it’s more about having some control in the middle east.
Lets review the allies that we currently have in the middle east:
Israel -> illegally built nukes, illegally occupying the palistinian territory.
Pakistan -> illegally built nukes, harbors AQ
Saudi Arabia -> an Islamic Theocracy with a very poor human rights record
Doesn’t seem like they’re really after Democracy…
January 6th, 2008 at 6:00 pm…and the bastard of Pervez Musharraf, dressing in civilian clothes thinks he is deceiving the people of Pakistan and the International community. He is a murderous dictator who, like Saddam Hussein once did, is enjoying the WH support.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:03 pm…And that is just another example of how the USA (not its people!) has been supporting and financing Dictators around the Globe. I grew up under 25 years of ‘military generals’ after ‘military generals’ supported by the USA. In 1964, we had our military coup. The US marines were on our coast making sure that the democratic elected president would go. In the years after that, we got to know how CIA helped to ‘dispear and torture’ political dissidents…
Comment by sacopenapa — January 6, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
Saco, apologies for the transgressions of our government over the years. It does not do us proud.
But when you think about what Bush has said repeatedly about dictatorships — stuff like “it’d be a lot easier if this was a dictatorship, as long as I was the dictator” you can understand why American foreign policy under presidents of both parties supports such figures.
They’re easier to deal with in the short term. And generally, the long term doesn’t enter into the thinking of our leaders. Unless, of course the short term turns into a disaster, leaving the long term prospects as the only prayer they have of redeeming their horrible strategies.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:06 pmDigDug
January 6th, 2008 at 6:12 pmI’m with you! Plus the US (never its people!) Historical record will show how much they supported democracy around the Globe. In my continent, you can check the ‘Condor Operation’. There you will find fingerprints of US’s involvement in torture and in silencing democracy… very vey sad!!!
Lllamita, thanks, but the people of the US does not need to apologyse! It is as we said, its government. Specially this one that totaly lacks in credibility. Bush was nevers elected!!!
January 6th, 2008 at 6:14 pm…I wrote ‘credibility, I meant ‘legitimacy’!
January 6th, 2008 at 6:19 pmAmerican foreign policy under presidents of both parties supports such figures
January 6th, 2008 at 6:25 pmOn that note, DemocracyNow had an excellent analyses of all the candidates and who they have picked as adivisers… same same…
According to U.S. officials, “the administration shied away from building a robust democracy program in Pakistan because it did not want to offend Musharraf.â€
Spreading democracy, if it doesn’t offend the cozy dictator in turn…
January 6th, 2008 at 6:35 pmDemocracy is giving nuns and priests who address issues of human rights a helicopter ride – and a 500 ft when flying over the jungle you force them out the door with the muzzle of an M-16.
Ask John Negroponte, he is a real champion of the best of what Democracy has to offer. The use of death squads to control the “Islamo-fascist” insurgencies in the Middle East has the stamp of approvals of the Neo-Cons and the Mossad Zionists.
With ample remunerations and financial incentives, Musharraf would be more than happy to become a bu$h minion and help in the massacre and slaughter of Muslims.
Democracy,.. who really needs it, money is what makes the world go around. A heavy handed dictator swimming in excess volumes of cold hard cash is all you really need/want.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pmWhen will The Congress start impeachment proceedings?
This is beyond the pale and civil unrest may become necessary if the DemoRats don’t get thier collective sh|t together!!!
Will Nancy PollLooser hold on to her “impeachment is off the table” bullsh|t if civil unrest is ON THE TABLE??? I think not. And Nancy just needs to think!!! How can the first woman speaker of the house be one of the weakest ever? A disgrace!!! What a set back for women with a spine!!
January 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pmWhy doesn’t the chymp just give him money to foster dictatorship, and be honest about it. That’s what he admires most about mushy..
January 6th, 2008 at 6:48 pmThere is an excellent read over at Consortium News:
Reagan’s Bargain/Charlie Wilson’s War-January 6, 2008
To tell a more heroic story, the producers of “Charlie Wilson’s War” left out many of the dangerous trade-offs that shaped U.S. policy in the Afghan War. As former CIA analyst Peter W. Dickson notes, one of the riskiest parts of Ronald Reagan’s Afghan bargain was his decision to look the other way on Pakistan’s nuclear program.
And BushCo acts like the fabled Nero and ignors the serious problem of nukes in the wrong hands. And the “blowback” is still with us.
January 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pmVeto SCHIP
Payoff Moo-Sheriff
B
Yes, Americas priorities are certainly in order
[snark]
January 6th, 2008 at 7:32 pmThis is the type of thing that would have me vote for Paul. Money to Saudi, Pakistan, Israel, etc.
January 6th, 2008 at 7:34 pmWe need money spent on domestic issues for a change.
If Bush spends taxpayer money on something called a “democracy program”, you can bet it’s a name cooked up by his White House spinners and it doesn’t have the intention of fostering democracy but the very opposite instead.
January 6th, 2008 at 7:51 pmRalph and Dixie – stop by the tpzoo sometime.
January 6th, 2008 at 8:07 pmLook Americans aren’t yelling about this so there’s no problem. Bush has made a National Debt of 9 Trillion dollars and even Charlie Gibson said Bush is better then Clinton. A Republican will get in office no matter who the people vote for. This is America and we’re seen a fixed election in 2000 and 2004. In both cases the facts came out that the Republicans cheated but nothing changed. This will be the same case. The GOP wants Rudy as President and that’s what will happen. All the votes for Obama and Hillary mean nothing. The GOP has to keep control until the US is broke. Americans don’t mine losing their homes or soldiers dying to protect oil. Now Bush will attack Iran and order minorities to serve in the Military. Camps will be set up to separate the haves and the have nots, the wanted and the unwanted and the losers and the winners. The Bush Supreme Court will enact the new laws and replace Clarence Thomas. Look for alot of Congress, Senate and House seats to be open as woman are cleared out. Pelosi will have to go home. Dennis Hastert, Mark Foley, Duck aka Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay, Scooter Libby and others will return to their jobs. Gonzales will be left at the camp for minorities. Welcome to the New America and it was all made possible by the American people.
January 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pmI demand democracy as long as my candidate wins ?
January 6th, 2008 at 11:05 pmCats r, what was your previous moniker?
January 7th, 2008 at 12:07 am“This is the type of thing that would have me vote for Paul. Money to Saudi, Pakistan, Israel, etc.
We need money spent on domestic issues for a change.
Comment by abarts — January 6, 2008 @ 7:34 pm”
Or how about not voting for an ignorant bigot!!!
January 7th, 2008 at 12:47 am