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Musharraf Should Step Down

Pakistani president is a lame duck who can't control Islamic factions

By Heather McPherson, Newser User

Posted Mar 22, 2007 12:34 PM CDT

(Newser) – Pakistani president Musharraf should finally do what he vowed back in 1999, says Ahmed Rashid: return the government to democracy. H e's too weak to salvage his credibility after recent public protests , and if he can't maintain power, Islamic extremists will seize the opportunity instead. He should disavow his own candidacy and encourage free and fair elections.

The U.S. should support such a strategy—which would leave Musharraf's legacy intact and, by extension, save American political face for having championed him—Rashid says. "No matter what happens to President Pervez Musharraf—whether he survives politically or not—he is a lame duck," he writes. "He is unable to rein in Talibanization in Pakistan or guide the country toward a more democratic future."

US Vice President Dick Cheney (L) shakes hands with Pakistani... (Getty Images)

Pakistani lawyers hold burning posters of President Pervez Musharraf... (Getty Images (by Event))

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Musharraf Should Step Down

Pakistani president is a lame duck who can't control Islamic factions

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More Newser Stories

Pakistan's New Leaders Will Open Talks With Militants

New coalition will defy US, open negotiations

Pakistan's Strife Grows as New Gov't Waits in the Wings

Restaurant bomb, airstrikes kill at least 17

Death Toll in Red Mosque Siege Tops 80

Commandos clear compound after 8-day standoff, 35-hour battle

Bin Laden in House, Not Cave: Official

Al-Qaeda bosses living comfortably in Pakistan, says NATO insider

Dozens of European Terrorists Training in Pakistan

Plus, 20 NATO oil tankers attacked

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Musharraf Should Step Down

Pakistani president is a lame duck who can't control Islamic factions

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Taliban • Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • politics • democracy • extremists • Islamic extremists

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Pakistan's New Leaders Will Open Talks With Militants

New coalition will defy US, open negotiations

Pakistan's Strife Grows as New Gov't Waits in the Wings

Restaurant bomb, airstrikes kill at least 17

Death Toll in Red Mosque Siege Tops 80

Commandos clear compound after 8-day standoff, 35-hour battle

Bin Laden in House, Not Cave: Official

Al-Qaeda bosses living comfortably in Pakistan, says NATO insider

Dozens of European Terrorists Training in Pakistan

Plus, 20 NATO oil tankers attacked

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?