"Ms. Bhutto knew the dangers to her safety. But she would not be intimidated. We also must not be intimidated.By implication, the Bush administration and all the other candidates have been intimidated by an unpopular double-dealing Pakistani dictator.
A leader has died, but democracy must live. The United States government cannot stand by and allow Pakistan's return to democracy to be derailed or delayed by violence.
We must use our diplomatic leverage and force the enemies of democracy to yield: President Bush should press Musharraf to step aside, and a broad-based coalition government, consisting of all the democratic parties, should be formed immediately. Until this happens, we should suspend military aid to the Pakistani government. Free and fair elections must also be held as soon as possible.
It is in the interests of the US that there be a democratic Pakistan that relentlessly hunts down terrorists. Musharraf has failed, and his attempts to cling to power are destabilizing his country. He must go."
Anyone who watched the early covereage of the assassination on CNN -- before they began spinning the news to coincide with the Bush administration's response -- could grasp the wisdom of Richardson's response.
3 comments:
I'm of the mind that Musharraf was behind her assassination...and isn't it funny how every threat to his power is eliminated? Election time...time for martial law. Major voice of the opposition comes home from exile...a couple of house arrests and then killed.
Hmmm...
Oh, though I'm an Obama supporter, Richardson is a) my governor (I now live in New Mexico) and b) would be my strong 2nd choice. I'd love an Obama/Richardson ticket, and wouldn't mind which was Prez and which was veep...
Richardson may have been right, but I was also impressed with John Edwards. First, that Edwards even managed to get Musharraf on the phone Thursday. Second, his message of continuing on with elections AND allowing international investigators (a call Hillary made 24 hours later without acknowledging that Edwards had already said this personally to Musharraf) into Pakistan to investigate Ms. Bhutto's death. That struck just the right note, I think. I just hope the PPP can put forward another candidate in Ms. Bhutto's place.
And, Rob, although I like Obama, I have to agree with the Washington Post that he stumbled badly here. He said nothing constructive about how to handle the crisis and instead tried to say that Hillary bears some responsibility for the assassination because of her vote for the Iraq war. What???
I told you Richardson would be the best one for our new prez. Unfortunately because he is so unknown he doesn't stand a chance. He has the best qualifications.
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