I've been particularly busy in RL, as the kids say, which is why posting here dropped off suddenly. However, our fellow centrist site Donklephant has gone done due to a hacker's attack, as explained in an email. The hackers "somehow figured out a way to login with the admin account and that gave them access to wipe out EVERYTHING, including all comments and posts. Well, except for two posts that were written by Duncan Riley back in 2005. He's the guy who set the blog up in the first place... Read Full Story
It's time for pure speculation because the facts have gotten too weird. So here goes: could it be that the Pakistan Supreme Court's decision not-to-decide whether President Musharraf is eligible to serve again as president until after he's been re-elected is actually a fairly clever ploy? He promised them that if re-elected he would take off the uniform and assume the presidency as a civilian. Everyone noted that they had heard that before and moved on. Perhaps the Supreme Court dwelt on... Read Full Story
Went to bed thinking, hey, at least there is no way the Saturday Pakistan presidential election can get any more strange. Obviously, I lack imagination. The Pakistan Supreme Court decision expected today brought with an interesting turn. Musharraf will be allowed to stay on the ballot; the elections will be held tomorrow. Votes will be taken and counted. However: per the Supremes, the results will not be announced until they've finished mulling over whether Musharraf was eligible or not... Read Full Story
Forty minutes ago, AFP carried an announcement that Benazir Bhutto has reached a power-share accord with Pervez Musharraf. The U.S. backed plan is back on. Kudos to the Administration. All purists will hate this plan; any realist realizes this is the only way to move Pakistan toward democracy and away from the Taliban. Bhutto's party will withdraw petitions seeking a delay in the election; a decision on others' petitions against Musharraf's candidacy will be decided tomorrow by the Pakistani... Read Full Story
Somebody put on a waltz and let's just watch the dance. Two hours ago, Reuters quoted Bhutto saying she is now optimistic that she'll be able to work out something with Musharraf on a power-sharing arrangement. How she'll square this with the Pakistani electorate after her remarks earlier this week will be a feat of political genius (if she's able to pull it off). Meanwhile, Google's logo today honors the fiftieth anniversary of Sputnik. I, too, miss those wonderful days of nuclear terror... Read Full Story
President Musharraf's administration claims that a Musharraf-Bhutto coalition is close at hand, despite former Prime Minister Bhutto's apparently unequivocal rejection of his overtures yesterday. Musharraf has also adopted her stance that there can be no accommodations for the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Syed Saleem Shahzad of Asia Times on-line confirmed details of the original Musharraf-Bhutto coalition scenario of which speculation was made... Read Full Story
This afternoon, AFP quotes Ms. Bhutto that the announcement corruption charges against her were dropped was "a disinformation campaign run by... the head of the intelligence bureau." As Center Sight vets will know, this is a shot with particular significance. The head of Pakistan's ISI is Nadeem Taj, who in the past she has trusted to serve as a back channel in communication with President Musharraf. He is the man who secured the release of her husband from Musharraf's custody, and... Read Full Story
Benazir Bhutto declared this morning in London that she has terminated negotiations with President Musharraf on a coalition government. It also appears that the reported amnesty deal, at least per Bhutto, was a public relations gimmick that will not be turned into actual law or policy. The London Financial Times reports: Speaking in London, the Pakistan People’s Party leader cited Gen Musharraf’s failure to deliver on promises for a return to full democracy as the reason for the failure... Read Full Story
Numerous news sources announced this morning that the Pakistan government has granted amnesty to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on charges of corruption. That clears the way for her intended return to the country later this month. It is also a strong signal that President Musharraf is serious about forming a coalition government with her later this year. He took one more step toward meeting her requirement that he resign his military commission, announcing that Ashfaq Pervez Kiyana... Read Full Story
