Bush Defends Pakistan's Gen. Musharraf

President General Pervez Musharraf suspends the Pakistani constitution three times, cancels/postpones elections, silences independent media, puts all of his political opposition in jail or places them under house arrest and President Bush says Musharraf "truly is somebody who believes in democracy"

Okay, what gives? Is it me or does this make no sense whatsoever? I am not normally a conspiracy theory buff but maybe ickypeople.com had it right after all and Musharraf is a test case for Bush.

According to the Washington Post:

Several outside analysts and a key Democratic lawmaker expressed incredulity over Bush's comments and called them a sign of how personally invested the president has become in the U.S. relationship with Musharraf.

"What exactly would it take for the president to conclude Musharraf has crossed the line? Suspend the constitution? Impose emergency law? Beat and jail his political opponents and human rights activists?" asked Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a presidential candidate. "He's already done all that. If the president sees Musharraf as a democrat, he must be wearing the same glasses he had on when he looked in Vladimir Putin's soul."

All I can say is good luck America, I know that Bush isn't the brightest bulb in the tree but he (or his handlers) were smart enough to get a law passed that enables the U.S. president the same powers that Musharraf is exercising right now.

Washington Post: Bush More Empathic In Backing Musharraf

Musharraf Bows to International Pressure - Sets Deadline for Elections

Since coming to power in 1999, Musharraf has suspended the constitution three times. It seems however, that the third time was not a charm for President General Musharraf. The Pakistani President has been met with extreme international pressure to restore democracy in Pakistan since declaring the state of emergency that resulted in the suspension his country's constitution and elections.

Since declaring this most recent state of emergency, Pakistani forces have arrested thousands of opposition leaders, banned broadcasts from the independent media and five opposition politicians -- including the head of the National Party -- were charged with treason.

Musharraf announced Thursday that elections will be held by February 15th and began lifting the imposed media blackout.

Pakistani President Suspends Constitution for the Third Time

It seems that every time Pervez Musharraf gets close to having to face the electorate his country has a crisis and he has to suspend the constitution. General Musharraf came to power in the wake of a 1999 coup d'etat that ousted democratically elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Countries including the United States and Canada have often been very supportive of Musharraf's regime.

Since coming to power Musharraf has previously suspended the constitution twice and has now suspended it for a third time thereby blocking elections.

Hours after declaring this most recent state of emergency Saturday, November 3rd, Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf ordered troops to take a television station's equipment and put a popular opposition leader under house arrest.

The Pakistani government also 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.

When asked about the current situation, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said The United States doesn't support any extra-constitutional measures taken by Musharraf.
"The situation is just unfolding," Rice said. "But anything that takes Pakistan off the democratic path, off the path of civilian rule is a step backward, and it's highly regrettable."

The United States itself has recently passed a similar law giving the state the power to declare martial law and suspend elections in the event of a crisis. President Bush "jokingly" said last month saying that he might stay in power after is presidential term ends.

In Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier called for all sides to refrain from violence and respect human rights in the troubled country. Although until very recently Prime Minister Harper has referred to Musharraf as a close ally, Ottawa was quick to condemn the General's most recent actions and urged Pakistan to reinstate judges and allow free elections.

Watch Video