A Step Forward

The first real elections since a military coup in 1999 took place in Pakistan yesterday, a step forward for a country that has lost credibility due to the actions of its leader. Since that coup in 1999, Pervez Musharraf has acted as both the head of the military and the president of the country. In that time, his actions have lost him the popular support of the people of Pakistan as well as that of many leaders from around the world. The United States (and more specifically the administration), on the other hand, has chosen to stand by Mr. Musharraf through his myriad human rights violations and clear disdain for democracy.
While this support has been mostly based on the idea that Mr. Musharraf is an integral ally in the fight against terrorism, it seems that Mr. Musharraf has had a difficult time stopping not only terrorist activities in his own country (despite at least $1 billion a year in military aid), but he has also had trouble with other forms of discontent. On May 12th, 2007, the city of Karachi saw protests of the suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan that left many dead and even more injured. The judge who had been dismissed was "reinstated" by the Supreme Court, was dismissed again in November, and remains under house arrest. Furthermore, the New York Times noted today that there was actually a rise in terror activity in Pakistan throughout 2007, which seems to contradict the ideas behind the administrations staunch support of the Pakistani leader.
The Times said that "ten people were killed and 70 injured around the country," during the night before and the day of the elections, but the popular discontent centered on Mr. Musharraf showed strongly anyway. Early reports have shown big gains (around 110 seats in a parliament of 272) for the Pakistan Peoples' Party, as well as around 100 seats for the Pakistan Muslim League-N. Both of these parties were headed by former prime ministers until Dec. 27th, 2007, when Benazir Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples' Party, was assassinated at a rally.
Though these elections are a step forward, they are not the end of the process. There is still anti-american sentiment in Pakistan (with good reason). Perhaps the most sensible idea to have been put forward in mainstream politics has come from Senator Joseph Biden Jr., who says that we need to focus less on military aid and more on economic development aid. We need to help average Pakistanis gain some stability in their everyday lives, and stop focusing so much aid so directly on attacks on terrorists and terrorist activities. The rest, as they say, will take care of itself (ah, if only it were actually that easy).

-Dave

A few things I forgot to mention...

As for education, there is a great example of an unorthodox school in Atlanta Georgia (of all places..). It is a school that welcome refugees rfom other countries at the same time as courting the affluent (and probably liberal minded) citizens of the same area. I'll get back to this with the name, but the book I learned about it in is called "What is What." Check it out.

Also, with Mr. Edwards out of the Democratic race for the nomination, it is quit entertaining watching Hillary and Barack dance around trying to be friends with one another while trying to point out their many flaws.

Farewell good sirs and madams

Brian

Sir,

In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Speaker of the House NancyPelosi hit the nail on the head when she said "Huge deficits. An endlesswar. I don't know what else he has to offer."
She was, of course speaking of President Bush's State of the Union speech which he delivered Monday night. Her words are exactly what so manyAmericans think. Is it even worth watching when nothing new will be said and certainly nothing will be accomplished?
The obvious answer is yes, in fact it is most important to watch the president speak, there is nothing more disheartening than the ignorant fool who criticizes without having anything to back it up. However, there is a grander message in this disdainful outlook on the presidents speech. That he is washed up. It's over for Mr. Bush. We are a forward looking society and have our eyes on the next president. One who will lead us to economic stability, fairer education, health care reform and a cleaner environment.
Mr. Bush of course mentioned these difficult issues in his speech. However, he devoted the majority of the speech addressing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These endless, ruthless tales of misguidance. When the rest of the country is putting the economy at the top of their list of concerns, why is it that Mr. Bush continues to try and put fear intoAmerican families in order to gain support for his war on oil?
Mr. Bush boasted about the tax relief agreement the Whitehouse and Congress recently came to, which is good, but as many economists have said, it is too little too late.The economy is not the only thing that Mr. Bush failed to adequatelyaddress. Health care and education do not seem to be important issues in his mind, regardless of the fact that the United States is becoming inferior to other developed countries in both areas. Rather than giving money to some to be used to pay for private education, perhaps we shouldtry to make our public schools more appealing to the upper and middleclass. Or as Mr. Bloomerge has done in New York City, try a kind of charter school. As Mr. Bush tried to boast of the accomplishments of the No Child Left Behind bill and ask for more support of it in the future, itwas difficult not to think of the uninsured children that, although they may not be being left behind by our low educational standards, they are indeed being left in the dust when their parents cannot afford the proper medical care they need.
It is important to remember that, as was mentioned before, Mr. Bush is on his way out. So, Dave, Mr. Bush is the one being left behind. As are the people who have his same antiquated train of thought. What we are doing is clearly not working, we must (and we will) find a way that will change the course our country is on.
Don't let the Democrats dupe you however. They are merely friendly advocates for the devil. The better of two evils perhaps, but nonetheless, spineless thoughtless parasites living off our support. It's time for us to wake up and force our political leaders to make the necessary changes the will benefit all of us, not just the rich.
As for Mr. Bush i think he is a waste of intelligent thought and I refuse to mention him this blog ever again. From this point forward, Mr. Bush is off limits, I refuse to waste my readers time by discussing a man who is merely a puppet going out of style. Have a nice life Mr. Bush.

Regards,
Brian