Bin Laden to Declare War on Musharraf

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Amazing how he keeps making these videos from the grave.
Looks like Musharraf is probably history so I'd imagine Bush will end up putting Pakistan on his axis of evil countries now.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bin Laden tape to declare war on Musharraf
By LEE KEATH, Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden will release a new message soon declaring war on Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, al-Qaida announced Thursday.


An undated file photo of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will seek re-election on October 6, officials said as the embattled US ally faced a declaration of war from bin Laden.(AFP/File)

The announcement of the upcoming message came as al-Qaida released a new video in which bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, boasted that the United States was being defeated in Afghanistan, Iraq and other fronts.

Speakers in the video promised more fighting in Afghanistan, North Africa and Sudan's Darfur region.

The messages are part of a stepped-up propaganda campaign by al-Qaida around the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Earlier this month, bin Laden released two messages — including his first new appearance in a video in nearly three years.

A banner posted on an Islamic militant Web site on Thursday advertised that another message would be released, though it did not say whether bin Laden would appear in video or speak in an audiotape.

"Soon, God willing: 'Come to Jihad (holy war)', from sheik Osama bin Laden, God protect him" the banner read.

"Urgent, al-Qaida declares war on the tyrant Pervez Musharraf and his apostate army, in the words of Osama bin Laden," it read.

Such advertisements usually precede the release of the video by one to three days, according to IntelCenter, a U.S. counterterrorism group that monitors militant messages.

The sophisticated 80-minute video released Thursday on the same Web site was in the style of a documentary, intersplicing the speech by al-Zawahri with footage from the Sept. 11 attacks, interviews with experts and officials taken from Western and Arab television stations, and old footage and audiotapes of bin Laden.

Al-Zawahri began by condemning the Pakistani military's July assault on Islamic militants who took over the Red Mosque in Islamabad, and he paid tribute to one of the militants' leaders, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was killed in the fighting.

The siege "revealed the extent of the despicableness, lowliness and treason of Musharraf and his forces, who don't deserve the honor of defending Pakistan, because Pakistan is a Muslim land, whereas the forces of Musharraf are hunting dogs under (President) Bush's crucifix," al-Zawahri said.

"Let the Pakistani army know that the killing of Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his male and female students ... has soaked the history of the Pakistan army in shame and despicableness which can only washed away by retaliation," he said.

Bin Laden and al-Zawahri are thought to be hiding in the lawless Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, where many analysts believe they have rebuilt al-Qaida's core leadership.
CONT.

==========================================
Outcry as Musharraf re-election vote date set
By Zeeshan Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will seek re-election on October 6, despite legal challenges in the Supreme Court and slumping popularity, officials announced on Thursday.

U.S. ally General Musharraf has said he will retire from the army if elected by parliament and provincial assemblies.


Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, (L) meets with Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, (R) in Rawalpindi September 19, 2007. Musharraf's re-election vote set for Oct 6. (Press Information Department/Handout/Reuters)


His allies have a majority in those bodies, but opposition parties are trying to block his plan, and there is growing speculation he is finally losing his grip on power after taking control in a coup eight years ago.

The Supreme Court is hearing a set of petitions challenging Musharraf's right to retain his dual role, the legality of being elected while in uniform, and whether he should be allowed to get a mandate from the sitting assemblies before they are dissolved for a general election due by mid-January.

The outcome of the political crisis is of keen interest to the United States, which counts on Musharraf's support for Western intervention in Afghanistan and the war against al Qaeda, but wants a transition from military rule to democracy.

In a new al Qaeda video aired on Thursday, second-in-command Ayman al Zawahiri exhorted supporters to fight the United States and take revenge on the Pakistan army for its assault in July on an Islamabad mosque sympathetic to the Taliban.

And another Islamist Web site said it would carry a video from Osama bin Laden in which he declares war on Musharraf and the Pakistan army. It did not say when the video might appear.

Musharraf survived at least two al Qaeda inspired assassination attempts in 2003, and bin Laden and Zawahri are believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

There was an attempt to shoot down Musharraf's plane earlier this year, and there have been a series of suicide attacks on security forces in the last few months.

BULLDOZING

After the election date was announced, political foes accused Musharraf of trying to illegally force through his re-election.

"Pervez Musharraf has once again tried to flout the constitution through the Election Commission," said Siddiqul Farooq, a spokesman for the party led by Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf ousted.

The Karachi stock market showed little reaction -- the index closed 0.62 percent down at 13,045.69 -- but investors were nervous about the political uncertainty, analysts said.

Musharraf's current tenure is due to expire on November 15, and his top legal aide has told the court he will be sworn in as a civilian leader if he is given a fresh five-year mandate.

Visiting Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said the commitments made were appreciated, but "the jury is out for a little while yet," and described the next four months as "very critical to the future of Pakistan."
CONT.

[Bronco Bob]

Didn't Bush claim it wasn't important to get bin Laden?

[alkemical]

yeah but he flip flopped - it doesn't matter now.....

[Rohirrim]

Benazhir Bhutto is returning from exile to Paki. This ought to get interesting.

[Bronco Bob]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

Benazhir Bhutto is returning from exile to Paki. This ought to get interesting.

Speaking of:

I am returning to Pakistan on Oct. 18 to bring change to my country. Pakistan's future viability, stability and security lie in empowering its people and building political institutions. My goal is to prove that the fundamental battle for the hearts and minds of a generation can be accomplished only under democracy.

The central issue facing Pakistan is moderation vs. extremism. The resolution of this issue will affect the world, particularly South and Central Asia and all Muslim nations. Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.

Throughout Pakistan's 60-year history, weaving between dictatorship and democracy, from free elections to rigged elections to no elections, religious fundamentalists have never been a significant part of our political consciousness. We are inherently a centrist, moderate nation. Historically, the religious parties have not received more than 11 percent of the vote in national elections. The largest political party is mine, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Pakistan's political landscape has been molded primarily by the moderate PPP, which has demonstrated strong and continuous support from the rural masses and the urban elite.

Extremism looms as a threat, but it will be contained as it has been in the past if the moderate middle can be mobilized to stand up to fanaticism. I return to lead that battle.

I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction -- a hostage to my political career. I made my choice when the mantle of political leadership was thrust upon my shoulders after my father's murder. I did not shrink from responsibility then, and I will not shrink from it now.

I am aware that some in Pakistan have questioned the dialogue I have engaged in with Gen. Pervez Musharraf over the past several months. I held those discussions hoping that Musharraf would resign from the army and restore democracy.

My goal in that dialogue has never been personal but was always to ensure that there be fair and free elections in Pakistan, to save democracy. The fight against extremism requires a national effort that can flow only from legitimate elections. Within our intelligence and military are elements who sympathize with religious extremists. If these elements are not answerable to Parliament and the elected government, the battle against religious militancy, a battle for the survival and future of Pakistan, could be lost. The military must be part of the battle against extremism, but as the six years since Sept. 11, 2001, have shown, the military cannot do it on its own.

Many issues remain unresolved in our political structure. Musharraf is precluded from seeking reelection in or out of uniform. Pakistani law requires a two-year wait before a member of the military can run for the presidency. The general can respond to the people's desire for legitimate presidential, parliamentary and ministerial elections, or he can tamper with the constitution. The latter choice would risk a fresh confrontation with the judiciary, the legal community and the political parties. Such a confrontation could lead to another declaration of martial law, civil unrest, or both.

Civil unrest is what the extremists want. Anarchy and chaos suit them.

The political element in Musharraf's party that presided over the rise of extremism has worked with every Pakistani administration since my government was destabilized in 1996. Its members are blocking the democratic change I have tried to achieve with Musharraf. They fear that democracy will be difficult to manipulate to the benefit of extremists and militants.

My dialogue with Musharraf aims to move the country forward from a dictatorship that has failed to stop the tribal areas from becoming havens for terrorists. The extremists are even spreading their tentacles into Pakistan's cities.

Last week brought a fresh challenge. Just days ago, Pakistan's election commission arbitrarily amended the constitutional provision regarding the eligibility of a person competent to contest for the office of president. As the constitution can be amended only through a two-thirds majority in Parliament, a judicial hornet's nest has been stirred.

My party and I seek fair, free and impartial elections to be held by an independent election commission under an interim government of national consensus. We want a level playing field for all candidates and parties.

In words commonly attributed to Joseph Stalin, "Those who cast the vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything." That's why we have stressed electoral reforms -- although our efforts have so far been in vain.

President Bush has rightly noted, "The most powerful weapon in the struggle against extremism is not bullets or bombs -- it is the universal appeal of freedom. Freedom is the design of our maker, and the longing of every soul."

When my flight lands in Pakistan next month, I know I will be greeted with joy by the people. I do not know what awaits me, personally or politically, once I leave the airport. I pray for the best and prepare for the worst. But in any case, I am going home to fight for the restoration of Pakistan's place in the community of democratic nations.

The writer is chairwoman of the Pakistan People's Party and served as prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. She lives in exile in Dubai.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...091901705.html

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

As someone who deals almost on a daily basis with Pakistanis, this is a very serious development. Civil war in Pakistan would spill over into India, Afganistan and probably Bangledesh. Not to defend Bush in any way, but this administration has had a very tough time keeping them as our allies in light of the fact that the Clinton Administration cut off all aid almost without warning because they did not respect the cultural differences between our countries and wanted them to conform to our moral values.

[Bronco Bob]

Originally Posted by Billy Clyde Puckett

As someone who deals almost on a daily basis with Pakistanis, this is a very serious development. Civil war in Pakistan would spill over into India, Afganistan and probably Bangledesh. Not to defend Bush in any way, but this administration has had a very tough time keeping them as our allies in light of the fact that the Clinton Administration cut off all aid almost without warning because they did not respect the cultural differences between our countries and wanted them to conform to our moral values.

The main reason Clinton cut off aid to Pakistan was that Pakistan was
using the money to continue to develop nuclear weapons, and Clinton
didn't want to fund Pakistan's nuclear program.
Somehow in Bush's rush to invade Iraq to avert an unproven Iraqi nuclear
weapons program and Bush's sabre rattling over Iran's nuclear program,
Bush neglected the fact the Pakistan is still building nuclear bombs,
no doubt using some of the $billions US taxpayers are giving to Pakistan.

[Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by Billy Clyde Puckett

As someone who deals almost on a daily basis with Pakistanis, this is a very serious development. Civil war in Pakistan would spill over into India, Afganistan and probably Bangledesh. Not to defend Bush in any way, but this administration has had a very tough time keeping them as our allies in light of the fact that the Clinton Administration cut off all aid almost without warning because they did not respect the cultural differences between our countries and wanted them to conform to our moral values.

Gee, and I thought it was an effort at stopping nuclear proliferation in Pakistan? Did you know that because Clinton loved McDonald's fries, and that those fries gave Clinton horrible gas, that we now know that Clinton is personally responsible for global warming? And Bin Laden had a thing for Monica Lewinsky so he attacked us on 911 in a jealous rage - again, it was Clinton's fault. On and on, ad infinitum...

http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/crs/90-149.htm

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Get a clue guys, I'm not one of the guys that blames all of the evils of the world on Clinton, but Clinton Administration cut off all humaitarian aid too which was a much bigger problem. I've been to Pakistan. I work with Pakistanis on a daily basis I hear their side of the story, not just what is written in the newspapers here.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

No matter what Clinton did or didn't do back in the day, the situation now has the potential to get pretty scary considering how well armed (nuclear weapons) Pakistan is and how much they and India hate each other.

[Bronco Bob]

Originally Posted by Billy Clyde Puckett

Get a clue guys, I'm not one of the guys that blames all of the evils of the world on Clinton, but Clinton Administration cut off all humaitarian aid too which was a much bigger problem. I've been to Pakistan. I work with Pakistanis on a daily basis I hear their side of the story, not just what is written in the newspapers here.

So what was to stop Musharraf from diverting humanitarian aid to Pakistan's nuclear weapons program?
Wasn't that what Saddam was being accused of, using oil money that
was supposed to feed the Iraqis to build palaces and to re-arm instead?

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

What beerslug said is correct. It is a very scary situation.

The humanitarian aid was not in the form of money. My brother in law, who works for the State Department, and who is the most loyal democrat you would ever meet was there supervising the building of two large canning plants so that they could preserve their crops rather than let them rot in the fields because people over there do not have refridgerators or other methods of preservation. He received a call in the middle of the night telling him to shut down the projects and come back to DC ASAP.

I have been there since and seen the half built schools, water projects and sewage treatment projects that were stopped on a moment's notice. I have seen near starving people living in shacks made out of crates that at one time held American produced food, which had been cut off.