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Well that didn’t take long. Soon after Mr. Obama issued his “If we
have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President
Musharraf won’t act, we will” statement, Musharraf sent a message. It had a duel purpose, not the least of which was telegraphing a warning to his benefactor, the United States, but also offering some aid to Bush on the foreign policy front. Because let’s face it, alarm bells are always ringing in Pakistan. But Obama provided the opening and Musharraf took it. He needs serious allies in the U.S. to survive. Anyone sounding even remotely antagonistic will hear from him. After all, it’s not like at this point in time we don’t need Musharraf. Bush hasn’t left us with many options in that region; a place where we know al Qaeda is training and bin Laden and others are hiding out. We all may want to change the dynamic, but it sure isn’t going to happen easily, quickly or through presidential campaign rhetoric. Musharraf wanted to make sure everyone understands what’s at stake. He also wanted to throw a bone to Bush, who has become his buddy.
The government of embattled Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said
Thursday it may impose a state of emergency because of “external and
internal threats” and deteriorating law and order in the volatile northwest
near the Afghan border.Tariq Azim, minister of state for information, said some sentiment coming
from the United States, including from Democratic presidential hopeful Barak
Obama, over the possibility of U.S. military action against al-Qaida in Pakistan
“has started alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public.”
… ..Pakistan leader may impose
state of emergency
President cites ‘external and internal threats,’ deteriorating
order
“Alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public.”
Puh-leaze. We’re talking about Pakistan, people. So if you ask me, this little
display of emotional PR blackmail was really in Bush’s honor and less about
Obama. Musharraf was sending a message, not the least of it focused on appreciation
for what the Bush-Cheney group has meant to the general’s very neck.
There also can be little doubt that Mr. Obama has backed
off a bit from his statement or at least not repeated it. He had the right idea, but clearly left himself open, because if you have to keep explaining what you have said it didn’t work. So even though Josh Marshall has it essentially correct, the piece that’s missing is not that Obama recanted, but that he’s still explaining himself. Musharraf’s latest rumblings, along with Bush’s comments today, prove that there are repurcussions
to rhetoric, even if it comes in a statement that doubles as a veiled message
of support for the team now in charge. As for the president, all it takes is one phone call to get the job done.
Hey General.
Yes, Mr. President.
Sorry about that Obama guy. You know we’re you’re real friends, general, so if
one of my guys isn’t elected you can see what might happen.
Yes, Mr. President.
Good.
Mission accomplished.
However, Bush did engage in the debate. So what Obama said, even as he struggles to clarify it, hit home. That’s something, because the smart thing for Bush to do, if he didn’t feel challenged, was to not address the issue at all.
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