Monday, August 18, 2008

Musharraf Resigns

This was a long time in coming.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan’s beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday in the face of an impending impeachment motion by the ruling coalition government.

The former army chief and firm U.S. ally has seen his popularity slide over the past 18 months and has been isolated since his allies lost a February election.

“After consultations with legal advisers and close political supporters and on their advice, I’m taking the decision of resigning,” Musharraf said a televised address.

“My resignation will go to the speaker of the National Assembly today.”

(4) Comments
Posted by Owen at 0649 hrs
Foreign Affairs

  1. When I saw the headline, I thought, “We’ll be reading headlines with the same variations on this theme - Musharraf Called to Resign, Musharraf Mulling Resignation, etc. - for the next year.”

    Pardon my cynicism, but I’ll believe it when Pakistan’s parliament convenes under a new president. The man took office and kept it as a tyrant, and raked in $8 billion + from foreign governments looking to “work with him.” Why would that change now?

    Posted by tee bee on August 18, 2008 at 1003 hrs


  2. Well, his exit is one time that I wouldn’t mind a door hitting someone on the ass… repeatedly.

    Posted by Venomous Kate on August 18, 2008 at 1513 hrs


  3. Yes he has been under pressure since judiciary issue evoked. The pressure built upand now as his part was defeated there was no point of co-existence of two-opponents. What i see a common is there won’t be any policy change as both are Pro -US and still it will be strong US Ally.

    Posted by Money Talks on August 19, 2008 at 0236 hrs


  4. “it will be strong US Ally”

    In what ways, exactly? By relieving our government and taxpayers of billions of extra dollars, to no avail?

    By <s>dis</s>allowing us to make important forays into Pakistan in order to irradicate terrorist training camps?

    By <a>not</s> giving us the leway we need at the Pakistan/Afghanistan border to find and capture bin Laden and his cronies?

    Pakistan has been a political boondoggle, and if you’re right about one thing, it’s that that may not change.

    Posted by tee bee on August 19, 2008 at 1559 hrs


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