by Rick Pearson
DES MOINES—Democratic presidential contender Bill Richardson questioned the legitimacy of Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government today and criticized the Bush administration for coddling him and other "corrupt dictators."
Richardson, the New Mexico governor and former UN ambassador in the Clinton White House who has stressed his diplomatic skills on the campaign trail, contended Bush should instead be helping developing countries on issues involving renewable energy, food assistance and microlending practices.
"I would not give him any assistance," Richardson told reporters after delivering a speech on the global challenges ahead. "I would not give him the kind of assistance we give him unless he does something about the safe havens of the terrorists."
In August, Richardson had been critical of remarks made by rival Barack Obama, an Illinois senator, about Pakistan. Obama said if the information is verifiable, the United States should take unilateral military action against terrorist enclaves in Pakistan if Musharraf refuses.
"My international experience tells me that we should address this problem (of failures in the U.S. relationship with Pakistan) with tough diplomacy with Gen. Musharraf first, leaving the military as a last resort," Richardson said in a statement. "It is important to reach out to moderate Muslim states and allies to ensure we do not unnecessarily inflame the Muslim world."
But on Thursday, Richardson accused the administration of assisting "dictators like Musharraf in Pakistan" and "helping dictators all over the Middle East" and providing foreign aid to "corrupt dictators that are not helping us."
"He was elected in a way that does not support legitimacy and he should have free and fair elections," Richardson said of Musharraf's Oct. 6 win in Pakistan's parliamentary election for president, which is being challenged.
"But he is the leader there," Richardson said. "Pakistan is a strategic ally, but we should use our leverage on him to go after the terrorists and to become more democracy oriented."
Richardson's comments came shortly before explosions in Karachi, Pakistan, rocked the return of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who returned to the country Thursday from exile. Musharraf has been one of Bush's staunchest allies in the war on terrorism.
In his address, Richardson called for America to take a leadership role on world issues involving the environment, hunger, human rights and development, at an unspecified cost. Noting his role in diplomatic efforts that occurred even as New Mexico governor, Richardson said, "We cannot afford leadership that has not been tested" on the world stage.
"My colleagues in this race have my respect, but it is a simple fact that the next international deal negotiated by any of them will be their first," Richardson said.
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Comments
MUSHARRAF DOES NOT CODDLE TERRORISTS!! He just signs truces with tribal leaders and agrees not to bother them while Bin Laden and his cohorts live among these tribes, train and plan in the mountains and valleys of Pakistan the next attack to MURDER Americans . When will liberals understand the difference.
Posted by: ron oblivious | October 18, 2007 4:48 PM
I have to give Richardson credit for saying this. I have never trusted that an alliance with this guy would gain anything meaningful, and its something that has gone pretty much unaddressed. And then there's matter of Bush pushing for democracy while allied with guys like this and the Saudis. Does not compute. But then, its nothing new when you consider the history of compromising alliances in the Middle East. Remember when we armed Bin Laden to fight the Soviets? Saddam to fight the Iranians? Don't think too hard about it conservative tough guys, your heads might explode!
Posted by: kb | October 18, 2007 5:05 PM
Our foreign policy should be governed by our reasoned self-interest not by finding the nicest guy to support. Now, getting rid of Musharraf is going to bring in another Pakistan leader and that is in our self-interest how?
Posted by: John W. Condon | October 18, 2007 5:11 PM
As a former Clinton cabinet member, Richardson knows a lot about coddling "corrupt dictators".
Posted by: Bruce | October 18, 2007 5:34 PM
Let's not forget, the Pak. SIS, Mush'es boys were the number one supporters of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afg.
He does not deserve support.
Either we support democracy or we don't.
Supporting this military dictator is moral relativism on steroids.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 18, 2007 6:24 PM
Richardson is the master of timing, making his comments just before Prime Minister Bhutto is almost killed by
Islamic terrorists. Maybe someone better inform Richardson who the real enemy is in Pakistan. And it's not Bhutto and Musharraf. Deliver us from amateurs on the outside shooting off their mouths.
Posted by: Hassan | October 18, 2007 8:50 PM
Hassan,
Richardson said nothing against Bhutto.
Posted by: C.Morris | October 18, 2007 9:15 PM
Richardson? Who's that?...
Posted by: Biggdawg | October 18, 2007 10:01 PM
As a former Clinton cabinet member, Richardson knows a lot about coddling "corrupt dictators".
Posted by: Bruce | October 18, 2007 5:34 PM
Bruce continues his never ending propaganda campaign. You should know about corrupt dictators, after all you defend two here everyday. Bush and his leader Cheney.
Musharraf deserves no help. Bruce if you lay down with dogs you get fleas!!! Buy some frontline and share it with the Bush whitehouse because lets face it Pakistan is one bullet away from being our enemy.
Posted by: Abby Hoffman | October 18, 2007 11:20 PM
Hassan-
You may want to slow down just a bit before you decide that the "islamic terrorists" were wholly responsible for the attack on Bhutto. Many of Bhuttos people, including her husband, believe that the Pakistani security services were involved. Musharraf had a lot to gain from Bhutto being killed, and he is a dictator after all.
Posted by: AJF | October 19, 2007 8:45 AM
For AJF, this is what Bhutto said as regards responsibility: "There was one suicide squad from the Taliban elements, one suicide squad from al-Qaida, one suicide squad from Pakistani Taliban and a fourth -- a group -- I believe from Karachi." Taliban and Al Queda Islamic terrorists? No, couldn't be. And the sun will rise in the west tomorrow morning.
Posted by: Hassan | October 19, 2007 10:19 AM
Hassan-
Learn to read my friend. I said "wholly responsible". I never denied involvement of Islamic extremists.
And note that Bhutto does not deny involvement of the Pakistani Security
forces. In fact she questions why the street lights had been turned off along her route, making it more difficult for her security to spot the suicide bomber.
"I'm not accusing the government but certain individuals who abuse their positions and powers," she said.
"We were scanning the crowd with the floodlights, but it was difficult to scan the crowds because there was so much darkness."
Bhutto said threats were made against her by "certain people who have gained a lot through dictatorship. They have presided over the rise of extremism, they have created safe havens in the tribal areas of Pakistan for the Taliban and other militants and they fear my return."
Musharraf is a military dictator. Is it really impossible for you to believe that he'd be willing to kill to remove a rival?
Posted by: AJF | October 19, 2007 10:37 AM