Jon Stewart interviews Pakistan President (dictator) Musharraf
I am shocked to see Pakistan’s President on the Daily Show (as you all know I love). And though Stewart asked him tough questions, I think this is somewhat inappropriate. Pervez Musharraf took over the leadership of Pakistan in a coup, he has not been properly elected. His dealings with India have been shady. His dealings with USA have been better but also shady. This episode gives him too much credibility.
Another interesting element to all this is that Musharraf has not appeared in a lengthy interview with any other news media in such length and candidness. Why the Daily Show? And he is selling a book! Is he for real?
I also think Stewart is going to get a lot of heat for this. I understand Musharraf is a human being and has something to communicate but his actions warrant serious discussions, much more than what was held on the Daily Show.
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10 Responses to “Jon Stewart interviews Pakistan President (dictator) Musharraf”
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It’s laughable, and obvious but not surprising that persons of Indian heritage have crawled out of the woodwork to criticize Musharraf’s efforts and appearances in the media.
Persons in India are good hearted people with a great heritage but it is SO obvious, how they jump at every opportunity to bad mouth and criticize Pakistan.
Pakistan may have political trouble in it, but politics exist everywhere.
When you express an opinion and it’s so clearly based on the fact that you detest a figure because of his heritage and faith, that’s irresponsible.
Hi “Sara”,
Eh? Crawled out of the woodwork. Have we been hiding somewhere?
So when I criticize Musharraf, I criticize Pakistan? And because I am from an Indian heritage, my reasonings as an American are to be ignored? What fact are you arguing against? Just that I am of Indian descent and therefore my opinion on a Pak leader is not valid.
Stating the obvious. But what does this have to do with anything?
So I detest a dictator, I am irresponsible for saying so. Or saying anything else on the matter. That is laughable.
BTW, what faith do you assume I am? I have no hatred for anyone. Especially for a people, it doesn’t matter to me what heritage or faith they come from. And it is incredibly ignorant to assume that from what I have written.
Musharraf is a dictator. The elections held in Pakistan are absurd. He has not made it clear when he will transfer power to the people again. How can any rational person respect that? Or support that.
He has been very shady with terrorism with India and the US. And though he might not be behind them (which I believe), he has let the terrorists do their thing so his power remains unchallenged.
You are barking up the wrong tree, Sara!
Sorry, Ajit, but there is truth in what I say, whether a person likes it or not.
It is not a coincidence that several persons with Indian heritages have stepped forward everywhere, and criticized and attempted to belittle Musharraf on television, in print, and on the Internet.
One word. Jealousy.
Hahahaha!
Yes, I am quite jealous, I would love to rule a country by force!!!
LOL, typical Indian whining. It’s funny that both of Musharraf’s so-called enemies, terrorists/extremist cavepeople and Indians, having been riding the same “he’s-a-dictator!” bandwagon for years, without referring to the fact that at the grass roots level, Pakistan is probably even more of a “democracy” than India is.
I could care less if Musharraf was or wasn’t “democratically elected”, I believe he is better than Benazir and Nawaz combined, and if the people of Pakistan are too dumb to realize that and let his cooperation with America get in the way, then they’re too dumb to vote anyway.
Look at the BJP in India and George Bush in America.. that’s what sometimes happens when countries full of stupid people are allowed to vote.
Calling Musharraf a dictator is a fact. He is one. Bandwagon? What bandwagon? I must have missed it.
And I got to tell you after you say “Pakistan is probably even more of a ‘democracy’ than India is,” there is no way to really believe you know your facts or are reasonable. Adding democracy in quotes doesn’t change the “facts.” What planet are you living on? What fact can you point to that Pakistan is even remotely considered on the par with India in being a true democracy.
And Imran, this isn’t a dick match. I have nothing against Pakistan. I surely have something against Musharraf. And I have something against people like you who believe there is more democracy where there is none.
You don’t care if he is democratically elected!? And you think people are too dumb to vote!? Who is really dumb here? And why do you write such things if you live in Canada which I last checked was a democracy? How convenient!
(could care less if Musharraf was or wasn’t “democratically electedâ€)
I believe that says it all right there.
” I understand Musharraf is a human being and has something to communicate but his actions warrant serious discussions, much more than what was held on the Daily Show. ”
I agree and I disagree with the Pakistani’s above claiming he isn’t a dictator. I’m a Pakistani and I see the truth like it is…. an individual who forcefully takes power is a dictator. That being said I do believe that democracy can’t function in a country where the underlying premise of democracy is non-existent in it’s constitution, it’s culture and it’s people; where the will of the majority isn’t free, not when they are poor and destitute and the few powerful hold their lives livlihood and their tomorrows in their palms; where your choice in leaders is either the corrupt or the just-as-corrupt; where people aren’t educated enough to know when they are being conned, where they are too concerned with where their next meal will come from to care that they are being conned. That is what Pakistan is. I can’t say if that is true for India or not but the fact of the matter is, Musharraf has done more than any leader in almost three decades. Let me rephrase that, he is the first to actually do anything for the country.
I am actually appaled that Pakistani’s who have written here would assume that you are prejudiced against our nation and not just have an opinion about what’s right for the country. It’s sad that most react that way to any criticism whether aimed towards their country or their beliefs. So how do you expect a country where the masses are so intolerant of an opposing opinion to make a balanced judgement to make a choice that will indeed benefit them? TO change this culture we need an overhaul of our education system. THis is a whole other discussion but my point is that while in the eyes of the world Musharraf may be wrong for being a dictator and defying the rules of democracy, the way I see it democracy may have made the world happy but our country would still be in shambles. I see us better off with this dictator who seems to have his country’s interest in mind, for once.
Felicity, thank you for that wonderful comment. I even agree about Musharraf is acting in the interests of Pakistan.
But as with any dictator, a set of questions arise. How will he transition to a democracy again? He has not mentioned this as far as I have heard. This, of course, worries me. Also, what next? Will he change the system enough that when he is out of power, will it function well without him? Will the system be better morally? What system will it be? I am not seeing answers to any of this. I guess I am being shortsighted when I say I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The problems with benevolent dictators are that they don’t continue to be benevolent. Fidel was good for a time, Saddam was good for a time. Most times they consolidate power because they fix house. Will he create checks and balances for himself? Probably not, so the same will ring true for the person following him.
And recently, Frontline had a special on the tribes in Pakistan along the Afgani border. It was really quite disturbing. The federal govt has no real power in that area. This is a disturbing trend in Pakistan. Musharraf made peace because he has no choice. He is hanging onto power by a thread. Wouldn’t an elected leader have more power? Maybe not but I think the right kind of elected leader could. Let Musharraf have a real election, get himself voted and I will sing his praises.
all of these are pertinent questions and you’re right, although elections have been promised time and again no clear plans have been indicated towards a transition to democracy. But then, right now there are other issues that the President has to deal with, most of them dealing with the US and it’s expectations regarding Pakistan’s cooperation in the war against terror. As far as the tribes along the Afgani border, those tribes were always independent and no Pakistani government has ever had any control over them. Elected governments may have even worked for their interests and assisted them in their causes.
My contention is that don’t judge a leader negatively simply because he wasn’t democratically elected. The world has numerous examples of democratically elected leaders who have put their own interests over that of their nation’s. I agree with your fears about dictators, but what you need to realize is that were it an elected government, chances are pakistan’s cooperation in the War against Terror may not have gone so smoothly, mostly because it would have been those powerful tribes who would have gotten that party into power in the first place. Elections are hardly ever fair in our country. Only a military leader, who could exercise such control at the snap of a finger could have pulled off what Musharraf has so far without the country plunging into some sort of civil war, and the US knows that.
There’s more I want to say but I gotta run. Enjoying this discussion though.