Musharraf rails against 'extremism'

[Darranar]

President Pervez Musharraf has called upon Pakistan's Islamic leaders to launch a nationwide movement to rid the country of "terrorism" and "extremism".

Musharraf made the appeal on Wednesday as he addressed a convention of 2000 religious scholars and clerics from all Muslim sects from across the country.

The president, who came to power through a military coup in 1999, called upon the participants to promote unity and harmony and to root out sectarian violence.

"We are all Muslims and we should not indulge in highlighting differences between Shia and Sunni Muslim sects. We should not try to impose our views on others," he said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D850230E-C21F-462A-810F-33E1FB988B66.htm

[varun]

1. just a few days before 9/11/01...

...Musharraf was extolling the virtues of Taliban and their "Islamic" way of life...

He speaks with a forked tongue.

[_Jumper_]

2. Politics

He was saying that because it was politically expedient for him prior to 9/11. I believe he truly is against extremism. All the women in his family are college-educated. Does that sound like a fundie to you?

[varun]

3. Political expediency

"He was saying that because it was politically expedient for him prior to 9/11."

Oh...so how do you know that what he's saying now is not due to political expediency?

One only has to look at this guy's past to find out about about his views. He forcibly overthrew a democratically elected government in his country...and engineered a fourth war aginst India in 1999...which caused Clinton to step in ...

[Darranar]

4. I think I agree with _Jumper_ here...

Musharraf is anything but pure - rather, he is a corrupt and brutal leader - but the emnity between him and the Islamists is great.

[_Jumper_]

5. His personal life

He clearly is not a fundie. I don't think that he is a great ruler but he definately is not a fundie and I believe he truly opposes them.

He is a dictator but overthrowing an elected government and warmongering does not mean he is an Islamic fundie.

[varun]

6. "fundie" - is a relative term

So he believes in female education, and drinks some wine with his dinner...

but what about his views on:

- separation of church (mosque) and state?
- treatment of minorities (what is left now) in Pakistan?
- Shia and Sunni problem
- Ahmediya muslims
- freedom of press
- feudal control of property and business in Pakistan...

Just because he doesn't wear a beard and turban does not make him a "moderate".

[dArKeR]

7. Does that mean anyone college educated can lead a coup against a

democraticly elected government?

Why do Islamics have to rid themselves of 'Fundamentalist' but we allow them to stay in the White House and Justice, and Dept. Def...

[varun]

8. Why is America afraid of "Fundamentalists" in Islamic countries?

when they have fundamentalists in power right at home?

In my opinion, America should let the people of Islamic nation decide who they want in power. I say, it is better to have an ELECTED fundamentalist, than a "Moderate" dictator.