White House Pushing Musharraf To Step Down

Source: CBS News

Top-Level Sources Say D.C. Seeking Smooth Transition To Maintain Close Ties


(CBS) Written for CBSNews.com by Farhan Bokhari, reporting from Islamabad.The Bush administration has quietly urged embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to step down voluntarily rather than prolong an ongoing political crisis and face impeachment, high-ranking Pakistani government officials and Western diplomats tell CBS News.

"U.S. officials have made it known to the president that it is best for him to step down and end this crisis," said one senior Pakistani government official familiar with messages conveyed to Musharraf from Washington during the last week.

Leaders of a newly-elected coalition government announced plans last Thursday to impeach Musharraf.

Speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information, the Pakistani official said the U.S. was keen to see an orderly transition of power, presenting Washington with the opportunity to build close ties with Musharraf's successor.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/14/world/main4349755.shtml

And face justice.

IMPEACH.

INDICT.

IMPRISON.

It's the true American Way to deal with war criminals.

BuchCo acknowledges he must go now. But then what? What if the 'democratic reforms' lead to the people electing persons or groups unpalatable to Washington (ala the duly elected Hamas)?
Pakistan has nukes, an ongoing feud with nuclear India, plenty of new American military hardware, Muslims of many stripes - including extremists, plenty of lawless territory, and a looming power vacuum.
Tough road ahead, tricky diplomacy to conduct, conflicts all over the neighborhood.
Can BushCo handle this according to something other than the Neo-con agenda?
Not likely. I expect they'll go StrongMan.