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Bush Push for Musharraf Angers Pakistan

Media turns on US as Washington supports beleaguered president

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 29, 2008 5:07 AM CST

(Newser) – His political future might be in doubt, but Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is still receiving forceful backing from the Bush administration after his party's drubbing in parliamentary elections—and it's angering Pakistanis, reports the New York Times. "I’ve never seen such an irrational, impractical move on the part of the US," said a political scientist at Lahore University, incredulous that Washington would sideline the two victorious parties, both moderate and pro-American.

 Anger is growing in the media as well. In the past week more than a dozen editorials in Pakistan's leading newspapers have decried Washington's "meddling" in its affairs. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte yesterday told a Senate panel that "we look forward to continuing to work well" with Musharraf.

In this photo released by Press Information Department, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf casts his vote at a polling station in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. Musharraf promised Monday to work with the new government regardless of which party wins the parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Press Information Department, HO)
In this photo released by Press Information Department, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf casts his vote at a polling station in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. Musharraf promised Monday...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf talks to reporters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in this Nov. 14, 2007, file photo.
Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf talks to reporters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in this Nov. 14, 2007, file photo.   (Associated Press)
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf wipes sweat from his brow as he takes questions from the international media in Islamabad, Pakistan, in this  Nov. 11, 2007, file photo.  (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder/FILE)
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf wipes sweat from his brow as he takes questions from the international media in Islamabad, Pakistan, in this Nov. 11, 2007, file photo. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder/FILE)   (Associated Press)
Pakistani lawyers hold a protest rally against Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008. Musharraf's allies rallied around him Thursday, challenging the victors in Pakistan's elections to oust him as he prepares to face a hostile parliament. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Pakistani lawyers hold a protest rally against Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in Karachi, Pakistan on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008. Musharraf's allies rallied around him Thursday, challenging the victors...   (Associated Press)
Asif Ali Zardari, center, widower of Pakistan's assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is flanked by politicians as he arrives to attend a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. The winners of Pakistan's election were assembling their lawmakers Wednesday for the first time to press President Pervez Musharraf...
Asif Ali Zardari, center, widower of Pakistan's assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is flanked by politicians as he arrives to attend a meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan on Wednesday, Feb. 27,...   (Associated Press)
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