Bhutto issues Pakistan ultimatum (BBC)

[katty]

more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7082827.stm

Bhutto issues Pakistan ultimatum

Benazir Bhutto wants elections to be held on schedule
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has issued what correspondents say is an ultimatum to President Pervez Musharraf to end emergency rule.

She repeated plans for a rally on Friday, despite an official ban, and called for a "long march" next week unless Gen Musharraf changed course.

She insisted that he restore the constitution, hold elections and resign as head of the army.

Gen Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday after months of unrest.

The authorities have warned that police will not allow Friday's demonstration in Rawalpindi, the country's main garrison town, to go ahead.

[flordehinojos]

1. it sounds like the smell of bloodshed.

[JDPriestly]

2. It sounds like Musharaff is giving Al Qaeda an opportunity

to intervene and take over. Who is best equipped to defeat the Pakistani military if things become violent? Al Qaeda, that is who. I hate to tell you. But Pakistan will very likely be the next country that Bush decides to invade. What other choice would he have if Al Qaeda and the extremist Muslims get obviously close to the button on Pakistan's nuclear weapons? This is an incredibly bad mess. Where are our European allies when we need intelligent advice? This is way beyond the capacity of the Bushies. American "leadership" has gotten us into this mess. Who will step up and get us out of it? Sarkozy of France? I don't know enough about him, but I believe he is or is about to visit Bush. Maybe Sarkozy is smart enough to give some good advice. I think he is the only world leader that has Bush's ear at this time.

[flordehinojos]

3. i think sarkozy was speaking to congress today ... perhaps we should all reinstall poppy bush. he is

such an ass, know it all, wants no criticism of the son ... no criticism of the bushes ... maybe with his whiny voice and ssssssssssss's that he ssssssssssssssstretches to who knows where he might do something......or he might just learn that just like him, his son is an *ssssssssssssss!

[katty]

4. sarkozy in an uber-conservative, fascist leanings, what better

match for him than the royal imperialist bush family?

[Iggo]

5. Actually...

...it looks to me like BushCo has enlisted Musharaff to do a test run of what may happen when he suspends the constitution, cancels elections, and institutes martial law in a last ditch effort to retain power.

I really, really hope I'm just being paranoid.

[katty]

6. well, w/bushco anything is possible-however, I do sense

very strongly that there are many forces (like Bhutto's followers, etal)that will upset Pervez's little king of the hill operation-not right away, of course, indeed his ISI and A-Q thugs are at the ready--a slaughterhouse in Pakistan will create more than international horror, it will weaken his position to (if this is the case) act as the human equivalent of a 'powder keg'in chief' for bushco forces, etal to 'get their war on' in the ME before they are out of office (or whatever THEY want to call it). The WH gang is locked up in their 'ivory tower' and the hour-glass is running out on their 'capability' to light a match and start a full on war in the ME (like dropping a few on Iran to start with, meanwhile, the sts of Pakistan have been and would continue to be on fire 'round the clock). No matter how much war drums beat and the intensity of polarization of positions is upticked, the forces of Democracy (worldwide)have not been beaten-YET-there is much more fight in us to come. (and I can get very paranoid about all this as well.)

[flordehinojos]

7. we are all hoping that we are all being paranoid but far too many of us happen to agree with your

assessment. I do!

O:-)