President Bush at Mount Vernon, home of 'the other George W,' said he finally had called Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf today. Photo by Mark Silva
by Mark Silva
MOUNT VERNON, Va. -- Today -- four days after Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule and started arresting protestors -- President Bush finally made a personal phone call to a U.S. ally who has collected more than $11 billion in aid since 2001 and pledged to steer his nation toward democracy.
"My message was that we believe strongly in elections, and that you ought to have elections soon, and you need to take off your uniform,'' Bush said of his conversation with the president and Army chief of staff in Pakistan. "You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time. So I had a very frank discussion with him.''
But it took the better part of four days for this discussion to take place, as Bush's senior aides -- including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice -- made their objections known in Islamabad. The White House had spoken of the strategy involved in letting others speak first. But members of Congress now are starting to challenge that U.S. aid to Pakistan.
Bush revealed his call to Musharraf today at a press conference with Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France, at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Bush often refers to Washington as that "other George W," and he did last night with Sarkozy at the White House. Today, though, it was all business. And time to report on that phone call to Musharraf.
"Look, our objective is the same in Burma as it is in Pakistan, and that is to promote democracy,'' Bush said. "There is a difference, however. Pakistan has been on the path to democracy; Burma hadn't been on the path to democracy. And it requires different tactics to achieve the common objective. ... I just spoke to President Musharraf before I came here, and my message was very -- very plain, very easy to understand, and that is, the United States wants you to have the elections as scheduled and take your uniform off.''
The president, however, declined to respond to a question called out at the end of the Bush-Sarkozy briefing about what Musharraf had said in reply to his phone-called message.
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and President Bush at Mount Vernon, after meeting in the dining room where George Washington once consulted with Rochambeau, the French general who led troops into war against the British. Both Sarkozy and Bush voiced concern about the state of emergency that Pakistan has declared. Photo by Mark Silva
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Comments
"There is a difference, however. Pakistan has been on the path to democracy; Burma hadn't been on the path to democracy. And it requires different tactics to achieve the common objective."
Nice to know that Mr. Bush reads the Swamp comments, and answers accordingly. The coincidence is noted.
"The president, however, declined to respond to a question called out at the end of the Bush-Sarkozy briefing about what Musharraf had said in reply to his phone-called message."
How do you talk about a phone call without talking about what was said on the other end...
Posted by: Fedora | November 7, 2007 7:34 PM
I wiped a tear from my eye as I read the part about my beloved President and Commander-in-Chief referring to the first president of the United States as that "other George W".
If only the Vice President was named Abraham Liebowitz...
I digress.
On board with you Mr. President! The leader of ANY country cannot be both president and leader of the military at the same time.
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | November 7, 2007 8:10 PM
Bush said of his conversation with the president and Army chief of staff in Pakistan. "You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time.
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?????????
This is our commander -in-chief?
Hypocrite-in-chief
Posted by: Bruce Y | November 7, 2007 8:27 PM
I have been to George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. It gives pause to all that the liberals think. George Washington was our first President. I believe if God did not intervene we would still be living under British rule. But, George Washington was tough and a General. He believed in capitalism and free markets
If America hadn't joined a revolution to overthrow King George America would still be under British control.
The American Revolution is unique in all of history.
Nickholas Sarkozy is going to join with President Bush to make America relevant in Europe.
John F Kerry conned us into believing that Europe hates America. It only took an election to change this attitude. The left in this country think they control European affairs sadly they are wrong W still is the President. All they have is Harry Reid, Dickie Durbin and Nancy Pelosi, say what? The liberal Democrats have no control over Europe. Dickie Durbin is highly overrated and could be defeated if the Doctor that is runinng against him has enough money to beat him.
Jerry White, Springfield,IL
Posted by: Jerry White | November 7, 2007 8:52 PM
President Meshuginah to President Musharraf....
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | November 7, 2007 9:32 PM
Jerry:
The French people call Sarkozy "l'Americain" - they make fun of him for his cozying up to Bush. Sarkozy is not even relevant in his own country.
And if most of the founders of our Republic were around today, they would be called Liberals - the Conservatives were called Tories because of their Loyalty to England.
God had nothing to do with it.
As for Durbin, I hope that the "Doctor" running against him has lots of money - not that that will help him anyway. He'll still lose like most of the other loser Republicans from Illinois like Denny Hastert, etc.
Posted by: BobinATL | November 8, 2007 9:02 AM
Just as George Washington was maligned by many fellow citizens for initiating hostilities against the Crown with history proving him right, George Bush also will be treated fairly and kindly by history for striking America's enemies in a time of great crisis and danger. Don't be misled by opponents' lack of perspective because of political bias. The great presidents in wartime: Washington, Lincoln, Wilson, and Roosevelt all were badly and wrongly assailed for the great sin of defending this country.
Posted by: George | November 8, 2007 9:38 AM
"Dickie Durbin is highly overrated and could be defeated if the Doctor that is runinng against him has enough money to beat him.
Jerry White, Springfield,IL"
Posted by: Jerry White | November 7, 2007 8:52 PM
This is precisely why Republics just don't understand what democracy is. Jerry White et all, you don't win elections with money, you win them with ideas. Your party is bankrupt on ideas of how to move the country forward. Hence the circus the other day when your pals thought it would be funny "idea" to waste time in Congress by switching votes at the last minute on the Cheney impeachment. Anytime you want to talk about ideas Jerry, et al. pleae oblige the Swamp. We've heard nothing from your ilk except stay the course and vote for Republicans or die.
Posted by: jethro | November 8, 2007 10:24 AM
I have been to George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. It gives pause to all that the liberals think.
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Well think again, Jerry, and read the Declaration of Independance while you're at it. Revolution is a liberal act. The conservatives of this country back in the 1770's didn't want to split with England. The Revolutionary war was as much a civil war as a war for independance. If it had been left to the conservatives, there would be no USA.
Posted by: Bruce Y | November 8, 2007 10:59 AM
I have been to George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. It gives pause to all that the liberals think.
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Well think again, Jerry, and read the Declaration of Independance while you're at it. Revolution is a liberal act. The conservatives of this country back in the 1770's didn't want to split with England. The Revolutionary war was as much a civil war as a war for independance. If it had been left to the conservatives, there would be no USA.
Posted by: Bruce Y | November 8, 2007 11:00 AM
"The great presidents in wartime: Washington, Lincoln, Wilson, and Roosevelt all were badly and wrongly assailed for the great sin of defending this country"
Give me a break. If you are comparing Bush and his illegitimate war to any of these guys you are delirious and not worth any further comment.
By the way all, don't mind Jerry, he is apparently off his medication again. I will have to talk to him about that again!
Posted by: Jerry White's Psychologist | November 8, 2007 3:21 PM