At tonight’s Dem debate, Hillary Clinton was questioned about Russian president Vladimir Putin’s successor Dmitry Medvedev:

Tim Russert: Do you know his name?
Clinton: [Nonplussed] Med… Med…
Russert: Medvedev.
Clinton: Med-ve-duh-vuh. Whatever.
Dubya in ‘99:

“Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?” Hiller asked, inquiring about Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, who seized control of the country October 12.
“Wait, […]

The Dem presidential candidates briefly mentioned Pakistan at tonight’s debate. Obama reiterated that backing Musharraf has been a colossal mistake:

Obama: [About a U.S. soldier he spoke with] They were capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier for them to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander-in-chief… […]

A Shah of Iran-type situation could result if we enrage the Pakistani populaceAs y’all know, the Prime Directive of Star Trek is non-interference in the internal affairs of an alien civilization. But America’s foreign policy apparatus, whether military or diplomatic, never bought into that hippie-dippy Roddenberry crap. The Prime Directive of our realpolitik is simple: […]

Experts tell us the first stage of grief is denial:

… the first election returns were barely in Monday night when the U.S. government began pressing victorious opposition leaders not to impeach the former military strongman… U.S. diplomats pushed hard against any effort to dislodge the retired army general who had just suffered a public rejection, […]

Those who cannot remember the past…
The book Charlie Wilson’s War by George Crile makes it clear that very little has changed in American policy towards Pakistan in the last 30 years. The U.S. still backs the dictator du jour:

… without Zia running Pakistan by martial law, there could be no Afghan war. Officially there was […]

Pakistani lawyer atop Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s car, before Musharraf sent the tanks in (via India Uncut):

Like some aging prom queen who’d overstayed her welcome, Musharraf finally gave up the title he fancied so hard:

Gen. Musharraf, 64, handed over his post as promised to the vice-army chief and retired from the army at an elaborate ceremony on a vast parade ground inside army headquarters in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi… […]

Who would’ve thought that Pakistanis would be calling on Congress to slash aid to Pakistan?

… wealthy Pakistanis have contacted members of Congress — as well as classmates from American colleges they attended — and urged them to cut American aid to Pakistan… [Link]
Many years ago, the country blacklisted Shame, Salman Rushdie’s biting satire of how […]

Here’s what I admire about our president. Even a small-town news reader would raise an eyebrow if his TelePrompTer instructed him to say, ‘The sky is green.’ But Dubya, he just plows through. Tuesday:
President Bush yesterday offered his strongest support of embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, saying the general “hasn’t crossed the line” and “truly […]

“Nobody is above the law, ladies and gentleman.” [Link]

“Have I done anything constitutionally illegal? Yes, I did it on 3 November. But did I do it before? Not once…”

“Did I go mad? Or suddenly, my personality changed? Am I Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?” [Link]

One thing I’ve learned in business is that the mark of an insecure, low-intelligence leader is someone who refuses to fire underperforming cronies for fear that new personnel will be less personally loyal. These people are willing to let the entire business drown before they let go of their little empire of bootlickers and henchmen.
Dubya […]

Pre-presidency, Dubya was unable to name the leaders of India or Pakistan during an interview in ‘99. Clinton slammed him for backing Musharraf’s coup anyway, but Dubya’s preference for unicameral government and cronyism was already apparent:
Bush… said: “The new Pakistani general, he’s just been elected — not elected, this guy took over office. It appears […]

The coup-coup in Pakistan figured prominently in last night’s Democratic presidential debate. Obama questioned the premise of a silly question implying you have to back Musharraf or see people die in New York, saying healthy political expression in a democracy deflates the motives behind terrorism. Dodd said we should continue backing Musharraf, Hillary hedged, the […]

Here’s but a sampling of Peshawar Pervez’ greatest Mush-isms:

On whether Pakistanis support martial law: “Their view is, ‘Why have I done it so late.’”
“You go and meet human rights activists. Ninety percent of them may have never cast their votes. They sleep on the day of elections.”
“The media is independent. We have taken certain actions […]

How many tanks have you bought the dictator of Pakistan out of your federal taxes?

Here’s our Pakistan coup calculator. Have fun with it!
Preivously: Obama homers, Hillary dithers, From Delhi with love

Barack Obama has once again taken a harder line against the Pakistani dictator than has Hillary Clinton. Obama’s reaction to martial law:

The United States must be clear and unequivocal: President Musharraf should reverse this declaration, respect the decision of the Supreme Court, and hold free and fair elections for parliament in January. At the same […]

A pocket guide to surviving martial law

Is this a white streak which I see before me?

Dear Islamabad,
You were probably dismayed when your leader declared martial law today. We Delhiites know a thing or two about living through an Emergency. Just follow a few simple rules, and everything will be ok:

The ruler will try to buy […]

The sordid drama unfolding at Islamabad airport echoed how Musharraf first came to power: another denied landing, another bloodless usurpation. Musharraf is Vayu, keeper of the gates of air. Musharraf is Indra, lord of war astride a white elephant with multiple heads. A corrupt Punjabi prince was hoodwinked, manhandled and rendered unto the House Arrest […]

Thankfully, Musharraf decided against declaring Emergency in Pakistan:

Pakistani president Gen. Pervez Musharraf, under intense pressure from his own advisers and the U.S. government not to curtail civil liberties, has rejected the option of imposing a state of emergency… after a call early Thursday from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and dire warnings from his […]

His political support crumbling, Pakistan’s dictator-in-chief may declare emergency rule to keep himself in power:

President Musharraf was poised to impose a state of emergency, a move that would grant him sweeping powers… Emergency rule would allow General Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, to extend the tenure of the national and […]