Richardson: Bush "let down both the American and the Pakistani people."

[bigtree]

Saturday, December 29, 2007; Page A06

PAKISTAN POLICY QUESTIONED

Richardson Criticizes Bush

DES MOINES -- Bill Richardson, keying off the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, sharply criticized the Bush administration's Pakistan policy and called for an immediate cutoff of military aid to that country that does not go directly to the fight against terrorism.

A day after calling on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to step down, the New Mexico governor delivered a broad critique of the Bush administration's policies. Richardson also highlighted his own foreign policy credentials and argued that now is no time to elect a president who is a neophyte on the international stage.
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"President Bush faced a choice with Pakistan," Richardson said in a speech to an overflow audience at the Des Moines Botanical Center. "He needed to choose whether to support the dictator or the Pakistani people. He chose the dictator. Repeatedly. And by doing so, he has let down both the American and the Pakistani people."

Richardson acknowledged the risks of forcing Musharraf from power, given Pakistan's instability and status as a nuclear state. But he argued that the risks are far greater if Musharraf were to remain in power, and he accused some of his Democratic rivals of making the same mistake as the president in putting too much faith in Musharraf.

Earlier this year, Richardson was more supportive of Musharraf. "I think the vice president is right. You have to lean on Musharraf, who is our ally," he said in February on MSNBC. "And what you don't want to do is provoke a situation, even though he's not a great champion of human rights, democracy, et cetera, to have somebody replace him who is less friendly to us, who would cause us real problems."

Tom Reynolds, press secretary for Richardson's campaign, said about those earlier remarks: "Whatever slight hope existed that Musharraf could reform himself and regain credibility with his people is now lost. Unless Musharraf steps aside, Richardson does not believe elections can be fair or that the country can make progress toward true democracy."


article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122802999_pf.html

[MethuenProgressive]

1. Another bold statement on Pakistan - while the other Dems offer Hallmark sympathy card mumblings...

..or like the moronic Obama, blame Bhutto's assassination on Clinton.
www.billrichardson.com

[bigtree]

3. He has been bold

and correct, too

[EFerrari]

2. Good for Richardson. The Democrats should all follow his example.

Bush should be a gold mine for Democrats.

[philly_bob]

4. Richardson one of the best on foreign policy. nt