I am at a loss that why would Musharraf talk about the threat by the US to be bombed to the stone age. What did he achieve by saying that ? He sounded weak and bullied by the US into supporting US. Your comments Plz!!!
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
I think it was somewhat for the domestic audience. He's saying "I was forced into this (abandoning Taliban, supporting US)", and indicating that his heart lies elsewhere.
He has quite frankly saved our behinds, there is no way Pakistan could have defended against an ariel assault by the USAF. We dont have the resources, our AF is small, and largely outdated. We would have suffered inthinkable losses had Musharraf not made the pragmatic and sensible choice.
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He has quite frankly saved our behinds, there is no way Pakistan could have defended against an ariel assault by the USAF. We dont have the resources, our AF is small, and largely outdated. We would have suffered inthinkable losses had Musharraf not made the pragmatic and sensible choice.
USAF would not have made that ariel assault if it could it would have done so against the Cubans, North Koreans and even Iranians...long before Pakistan...
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actually i heard that before on history channel's documentary on musharraf.that u.s had threatened to bomb Pakistan.Bush is denying it and so is Armitage whos believed to have said it.Well he's got a book coming out soon Mr. Musharraf so just may be that was the reason for him to saythat to catch a few headlines before the signing of the book.
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
Che,
The USAF would be largely unopposed in the air over Pakistani airspace. As it was in the air over Iraq and Afghanistan. They would not have undertaken a ground invasion, they would have simply bombed Kahuta and Chasma plants with strategic bombers and/or used Cruise Missiles.
We have no defence against that. Our air defenses are functionable against the likes of India, but not the USAF which operates highly advanced jets with full BVR capability. Also, how do you suggest we'd have stopped a cruise missile?
Frankly, given this revelation-and we long thought there was some arm-twisting used to force our volte-face-we need desperately to finalize a 4000-5000 range IRBM so we can hold the US's pet hostage should they attack us, or threaten too.
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If it is just for the book to make some money on the side, he could have easily done so with unlimited opportunities at his disposal in that corrupt environment.
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I think the book is assured Intl Best seller status. Look at the environment into which it is being released!
I'll buy a copy...
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He has to create publicity for his book. He has already been given $1 million for it.
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
At least he believes in WHITE MONEY.
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Personally, the book response was simply to deflect the question during the press conference.....nothing more nothing less. In terms of the book itself, I don't believe it was written to make money but to increase responsiveness of the world audience towards a more positive reflection of Pakistan and Musharraf himself. It will allow him to answer and explain the climate in which he was forced/propelled into as a result of the Nawaz action. But more importantly, it will clarify his position on key issues so that the average reader will understand where he's coming from and hopefully broaden his support base. This leads me to the stone age comment:
To answer your question as to why he intially said the stone age comment, well i firmly believe that there is definitely a strategy behind it and it wasn't an off the cuff remark. This comment was in his book and the reporter alluded to it in the interview.
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I agree - the book has not been published just to make money. If that was the case, he would have waited till he retires and then released the book - it still would be a best seller plus he could put a lot more in about the ongoing issues in Afghanistan and with India (possible summit conference soon?).
There has been a lot of negative publicity of Pakistan recently. All roads of terrorism and nuclear proliferation are unfortunately leading to Pakistan. Plus the issues with human rights, women's rights, ball tampering, deal with Taliban etc. I think he has decided to publish the book as a PR exercise to exonerate Pakistan from some of these issues in the international press and project Pakistan's viewpoint. This is the best way to do it and it is a very smart move. The book will be serialised in the times next week and get to a wide audience. PLus it makes him a buck or two as well.
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
Where are you living? Don't talk like kids, US can do everything against Iran, Pakistan, and Cubans. There are dozens of other reasons why US didn't bomb. Sorry to say ( US is now the god in this earth ). Nobody can do something against them in a warr. They can only loss a few soldiers that's all. They are 100 years farr in warr then pakistan.
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
Simbah, the views expressed are accurate. USA is the unchallanged hegemonic power of our times. But re: war has 1 r, not 2 (warr is incorrect). Ditto far (not farr).
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
Yeah and there are dozens of reasons why it would not have bombed a major military power, with sizeable conventional forces coupled with nuclear weapons...and a population of 150 million...there is a reason why US only chose to attack Afghanistan and Iraq...Afghanistan was ruled by a ragtag militia with no conventional military capability what so ever...and I-raq was wrecked and crippled by years of sanctions and its conventional military capability routinely and prennially destroyed whenever Saddam had the hair in his a$$ to defy the US and/or UN through out the '90's...
Nobody can't do anything against them in war, but for them to go to war with somebody they take other factors into account as well and going to a war with a third rate rag tag poorly armed and equipped militia as opposed to 1 million strong army, with a decent airforce and nuclear weapons, which has the capability to take out most of US assets and interests in the region is an altogether different prospect...
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
^plus millions of us scattered in its own cities
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
my 2 cents... they had success initially in both countries (afghan / Iraq ) cuz of some support by the local population. They would not enjoy that in some other country esp with fiercly patriotic ones such as India and Pakistan
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should I read his book?
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
ABSOLUTELY Komal. All Pakistanis should. Whether you support him or not.
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y should they do that? Everybody he has quoted in the book has called him a liar
Re: WHY WOULD MUSHARRAF SAY THAT
Nobody can't do anything against them in war, but for them to go to war with somebody they take other factors into account as well and going to a war with a third rate rag tag poorly armed and equipped militia as opposed to 1 million strong army, with a decent airforce and nuclear weapons, which has the capability to take out most of US assets and interests in the region is an altogether different prospect...
This is complete bull****. US would have slaughtered Pakistan in a fight. The nuclear option is NOT AN OPTION for Pakistan. Pakistani missile systems can reach to the Middle East and India. There is no way to deliver a series of nukes that far away to an entire country, the US can deliver them to Pakistan though. So nukes are not an option or a deterrence, and PAF cannot match the USAF. The 1 million strong army is only required in a land war, and simply, America would have bombed Pakistan so that the whole country was rubble, like Iraq and Afghanistan, and then they would have gone into Afghanistan through Uzbekistan. Please do some reading and understanding before commenting on such matters.