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India-Pakistan
Democrats emphasise better US strategy on Pakistan, Qaeda
2007-11-12
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

#12  I wouldn't bet money on Harry Reid discovering that water is wet, much less having a "plan" for dealing with Pakiwakiland. The man is a certifiable charlatan, and deserves to be hung by the people of Nevada. Unfortunately, I don't see anybody with enough cojones to do the job there.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2007-11-12 16:38  

#11  Perv is the problem in Pakistan.He runs/controls the Islamic warriors!!!!!

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/killing-democracy-in-pakistan/2007/11/12/1194766585886.html
Posted by: Paul   2007-11-12 13:15  

#10  Midnight hoops? Clean needles? Officer Friendly?
C'mon, Harry, don't make us guess. Help us out here, willya?
Posted by: tu3031   2007-11-12 12:45  

#9  I find it deeply disturbing that we allow known or suspected traitors serve in the highest offices.

It is because of the liberal left and the fact we don't enforce the laws of being a traitor anymore.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-11-12 10:38  

#8  I find it deeply disturbing that we allow known or suspected traitors serve in the highest offices.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2007-11-12 09:32  

#7  *correction* If there is a problem, it is not the employee's should read If there is a problem, it is not only the employee's
Posted by: Don Vito Shens6025   2007-11-12 09:17  

#6  These "Democratic Leaders" could never hold down a job. Let alone a management position. If there is a problem, it is not the employee's responsibility to just notify management about the problem, the best employee also recommends solutions that resolve the problem.

These pin heads can't even begin to offer effective solutions. There complaint is just another slam against management in disguise.
Posted by: Don Vito Shens6025   2007-11-12 09:14  

#5  "Let's tell them that we have a plan... but let's not tell them what it is. That's always worked well for me..." -- John Kerry, overheard in the Senate cloak room.
Posted by: eLarson   2007-11-12 08:36  

#4  In past I have suggested that the RNC set up a "school for Democrat leaders", with a course called "Basic Foreign Policy", tongue in cheek.

Then I realized that the Democrat ignorance and incompetence in foreign policy is so incredibly dangerous, that this isn't funny. The Republicans should set up a school like this and *pay* to get Democrat leaders to attend.

Be as nice as possible to them, but lay down the law. They cannot continue bumbling about like a drunken bull in a china shop without risking not only the United States, but also entire continents or the world itself.

If they want to do something for "the environment", a great start would be by not starting World War III because they don't know any better.

Lyndon Johnson screwed the pooch with Indochina. Jimmy Carter lost five friendly nations to communism and a vicious theocracy. Bill Clinton resulted in the War on Terror.

That is not a coincidental pattern.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-11-12 08:31  

#3  Life is made up of solutions, not problems.

Unfortunately, it's also chock full of those who haven't figured this out. Yet. Those are the folks you can still hope to lead around by the nose to win elections.
Posted by: gorb   2007-11-12 01:44  

#2  Â“It is increasingly clear that the administrationÂ’s policy has served neither the needs or the people of Pakistan nor security interests of our country”
Yup, Bush has failed Pakistan. That's an astonishing sentence, even for Reid.

I understand that Biden's working on a plan to solve this by partitioning Pakistan.

“We believe events in Pakistan and elsewhere convincingly demonstrate it is long past time for a more effective strategy for dealing with Pakistan, the related situation in Afghanistan, as well as addressing the other threats and challenges America faces around the world.”

And your suggestion is what, exactly?

"failed" is now joined by "derailed". The Dems have doubled their vocabulary.
Posted by: KBK   2007-11-12 00:59  

#1  Be more effective? Thats the call? You have better plans?

I tell you what useless congress, I know you have NO plans. WE in fact have over nine.

How about being effective in supporting the commander in chief for a change? huh? Give that a whirl.

To quote the only good line of the week, you are a bunch of pygmies.
Posted by: newc   2007-11-12 00:29  

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