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Democrats emphasise better US strategy on Pakistan, Qaeda
Top Democratic senators on Saturday urged President George W Bush to seek a “more effective” strategy for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Al Qaeda, following the “deeply disturbing” actions of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
That's it? That's the best they could come up with? "Be more effective"? Gosh. It's the March of the Foreign Policy Geniuses...
Musharraf’s decisions to suspend the constitution and declare emergency rule “raise very troubling questions not only about the (US) administration’s policy vis-a-vis Pakistan, but also its overall national security strategy,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his colleagues said on Friday in a signed letter.

Their criticism came as Bush on Saturday praised Musharraf as a strong ally against terrorism and said he had no reason to doubt the Pakistani leader’s pledges to return his country to democratic rule. Besides Musharraf’s moves that have “derailed” Pakistan from the path of democracy, the senators listed his failure to deal with Al Qaeda – which “has regenerated and now rivals what it was before 9/11” – despite 10 billion dollars in US aid.

Musharraf’s “decision to use his police, military and intelligence services against his political opponents instead of against terrorists directly undermines the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda,” the Democrats said.

“It is increasingly clear that the administration’s policy has served neither the needs or the people of Pakistan nor security interests of our country,” the opposition lawmakers said. The letter was signed by Reid, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Charles Schumer, and Majority Conference Secretary Patty Murray.
Certifiable, each and every one of them. Certifiable geniuses, I mean...
They also noted that the Iraq War had “degenerated the readiness of our military to levels not seen since Vietnam,” and urged Bush to “immediately assess” his policies toward Pakistan and to counter Al Qaeda.
Posted by: Fred 2007-11-12
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=206724