The New York Times shows its bias in reporting Lawmakers in Venezuela Approve Expanded Power for Chávez - New York Times
The National Assembly approved a constitutional overhaul on Friday that would enhance President Hugo Chávez’s authority, allowing him to be re-elected indefinitely and giving him the power to handpick rulers, to be called vice presidents, for various new regions to be created in the country. The 69 amendments still need to be approved by voters in a Dec. 2 referendum before they take effect.but Musharraf Warned Not to Impose Emergency Rule - New York Times
A senior American commander, Adm. William J. Fallon, warned Pakistan’s president on Friday not to impose emergency rule, saying that doing so would jeopardize American financial support for the military here.NYT does not seem to matter that Dictator Chávez (someone that hates America) wants to change the rules to keep himself in power, but it is not OK for Musharraf (a leader we are on reasonably good terms with) to do it. But Musharraf did not listen. Whether that is a good thing or not remains to be seen. Earthtimes indicates akistan is considering enforcement of Islamic laws in Pakistan's north-western Swat valley to meet the demands of pro-Taliban militants who briefly seized and then released around 100 security personnel after nine days' fierce fighting that left more than 200 people dead. "The government is considering the implementation of Sharia law in the view of the demands of the local people," said Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, governor of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in which the valley is situated.
That could be a good thing, because once they are in place the people may not like living under such strict laws, and if the government backs off on them after a while they may get support from the people living there.but what will happen to Benazir Bhutto?.
2 comments:
Unfortunately you're missing a rather salient difference between Venezuela and Pakistan. In Venezuela their national assembly was elected in a democratic vote. Musharaff has seized power in a coup. We may not like the Venezuelan decision but they've a perfect right to make it. We don't like Chavez but his approval is in the sixties whereas Musharaff's is in the twenties. This sort of simplistic and not very well informed analysis just continues to blind us to the realities that are out there.
Oh yes, Venezuela is the perfect example of democracy, unless you want to watch a TV station or listen to a radio that criticizes Chavez.
And if Musharaff was just worried about his democratic competition I would agree with you, but he is opposed by Islamic Radicals who would be happy to win an election one time, before they did away with elections, and ran everything by the Qur'an, which does not promote democratic elections.
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