Musharraf: In the Line of Fire

Pakistan's President Tells Steve Kroft U.S. Threatened His Country

(CBS)  Most heads of state wait until they are comfortably in retirement before sitting down to write their memoirs, but in the case of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf there are no guarantees that he will live long enough to have one.

The book is appropriately called "In the Line of Fire." It presented correspondent Steve Kroft with the opportunity to sit down with Musharraf in Islamabad and talk about things that he has never or rarely spoken about: including threats made by the United States after 9/11 to enlist his support against al Qaeda and the Taliban, and Dr. A.Q. Khan, the Pakistani hero who sold Pakistan's most sensitive nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

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Pakistan, with its nuclear weapons and Islamic militants, has been called the most dangerous country in the world, and one of the most dangerous places in it is riding in the motorcade of President Musharraf. Twice suicide bombers have tried to blow it up, killing 14 people in the process. Both times, Musharraf barely escaped.

There have been half a dozen plots on his life. Why are so many people trying to kill Pakistan's president?

"These people are extremists, terrorists, they believe in forcing their views on others. So, I’m standing in their way, frankly," Musharraf says.

"The suicide attack. You discovered that most of the plotters were from the Pakistani Air Force," Kroft remarks.

"Yes," the president replied.

Asked if that disturbs him, the president acknowledges, "It did. It's all the lower ranks. They are susceptible to such extremist, terrorist tendencies and to be indoctrinated to do these things."

That indoctrination is part of a rising tide of anti-American sentiment, aggravated by Musharraf’s cooperation with the United States in the war on terror, an alliance that was forged on Sept. 11, 2001. At the time, Pakistan was one of a few countries supporting the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which harbored Osama bin Laden. The U.S. made it clear that that relationship would have to end, and Musharraf says the message was delivered by then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in the most undiplomatic terms.

"The Director of Intelligence told me that he said, 'Be prepared to be bombed.' Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age," Musharraf remembers.

What was his reaction?

"One has to think and take action in the interest of the nation and that's what I did," the president explains, adding that he thought it was a "very rude remark."

Armitage disputes the exact language, but doesn’t deny that the message was strong. Musharraf says he believes his director of intelligence and says he took it as a threat.

"It was a threat, certainly," Musharraf says. "I took it that the United States, after having whatever happened to the World Trade Center, would be a wounded country – a wounded sole superpower and they are going to do anything to counter and to punish the perpetrators. Now, if we stand in the way of that, we are going to suffer."

[cathaleen]

I was staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in DC after 9/11 and Musharraf was a guest there of our government (who threatened) him - him and his entourage looked pretty comfortable.

[ulissesbju]

For our days, this report brings a lot of discussion. I think that Pakistan has caused inumerous negative influences in the world. We can not prove at all that this country supports terrorism directly, but we should always doubt about the Pakistani government in its actions and influences in the Middle East.

[shutupmurtha]

This proves Musharaf is not one of our allies, he is just like the rest of the sand nations. I knew it all along, the Muslims hate us, I didnt understand why they would help. Now he is whinning on American TC. He is probably the REASON WE havent caught BIN LADEN YET. WHAT A MORON GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY and TAKE CHAVEZ and HITLER with you. Go back and play in your big primative sandbox....moron

[shutupmurtha]

Bush told the American people we would go after any COUNTRY that did anything to help terrorists....right. Did MUSHARAFFFFF think that meant we would bend him over and give him a spanking?..... It meant we would bomb the HELL out of them and rightfully so.

[brv2656]

Not that it matters at this point but Armitage should have been sent back to diplomacy school before being allowed to engage in any foreign leadership relations. The United States needs to to alot better in this arena, we should be setting the example and not acting like schoolyard thugs. Insulting to say the least.

[tomflint69]

I believe, if whether that was true or false but since Pakistan took the decision to work with U.S so now it should work with us. Its now useless to say that we threatened them. Instead of thinking negatively they should be positive. We know that U.S has been and had been gifting Pakistan with strategic and financial rewards. Now they should be thankful to us. The time has changed now.

[tomflint69]

Its not that Musharaf is a child to innocently say that U.S threatened him. He may get gains for himself and for Mr. Bush.
Definitely he had analysed and thought about the consequences of whatever he would say on media.
It may be a political move by Musharaf:
* He has also told in detail on media that Iran and North Korea not only got the centrifuges and other nuclear bomb designs but also completed components. This will provide basis to Mr. Bush to wage a war against Iran.
* Pakistani public (who are with Extremists) will have their sympathies with Musharaf.
* Pakistan is also going to sign gas agreement with Iran. Relations between the two has been sour. After Musharaf's this comment, Iranians will give Pakistan concessions and Iran will also show its sympathy (despite the fact that Pakistan works with U.S).
Arabic countries will show their sympathy to Pakistan.
American public may go against Mr. Bush and the new administration may like Musharaf to rule on Pakistan.
Mr. Bush may gift Pakistan a little bit more to eliminate any sufferings Pakistan might claimed.

[mabangash]

Bombing a nuclear country does not seem sane to me. All they had to do was offer Pakistanis money and Mush would have done it.

[nothappyatall]

Yeah, typical of the Bush regime, threaten, bully,blackmail, etc., that is why we are in this whole mess to begin with.

[tngreen]

Apparently none of the commentors has read Greg Palast's "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," or you would actually be surprised that the U.S. had to threaten Musharraf at all. He has been sleeping with the West for a long time in order to seize and maintain power in Pakistan.

As long as the U.S. continues to act as a rouge nation, other nations will have no choice but to arm themselves in self defense.

[clestes-2009]

Sounds like Bush playing cowboy God again. What a fool.

[rsoxfan1123]

This is typical of the Bsh administration. This was obvious back when a US spy plane drone was shot down over China and Bush began bullying China over their shooting it down. This was before Colin Powell developed a conscience...I wondered at the time what we would have done had we caught a Chinese spy plane over our soil.

[pelepoe]

why is 6o minutes making a big story about this now 5 years after the fact of 911?Of course if any country wasnt with us they were against us. even japan changed their mind about war, just to be on our side. they remember the glow!

[rsoxfan1123]

I would imagine they are a making a tosry fo it because the comemnts made by Armitage just now are coming to light and it is interesting to many people-

[shutupmurtha]

clestes hahhahha, Sounds like BUSH playing God because he wants to kill the terrorists that killed Americans, than I guess im playing GOD too you people would criticize him if he solved all the worlds problems, GROW UP...HUGO. Havent you learned your lesson with Chavez and Amadmanforjihad supporting all your views?????? Obviously this shows that pakistan is no better than the other MUSLIM sandbox nations. Musharaf, Chavez, and Akmeanjhfjkajad can go back to their primative sandboxes and GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY. Chavez with his 85% poverty rate tries to tell us how to run our country, Hugo what country spends more on its military than VENUZAELA is worth???? It is sad that we have to FORCE little PAKISTAN to help us catch TERRORISTS after they killed 3000 of our people. The sick thing is, our country would have been the first to help them if they had a devestating attack and they would be whinning for our help. They are playing the thick skulled media and the liberals are lapping it up like a bunch of malnurished dogs. You guys love these insults on AMERICA because you have been doing it the whole time. besides BUSH SAID HE WOULD FIGHT ANY COUNTRY THAT SUPPORTED TERRORISM IN ANY WAY...REMEBER and you were probably like yeah, kill those terrorists and now you want to give them rights and criticize Bush for doing what you previously agreed with..LIBERALISM is a mental disorder.

[mikej17]

Well, I believe that one way or another it has worked out in Pakistan's favor. Getting extremists out of Pakistan will only help them in the long run. At the same time, Bush administration definately needs to stop bullying other nations and try to play nicely with everyone. War & bloodshed doesn't gain anything, it'll only create more suppression and end up in a backlash sooner or later. History of our actions show this time & again. On the other hand we should also try to curb extremism in our country as well. It's quite clear that extremist elements such as MarthaShutup who has posted his/her remarks on this website are no better than the rogue elements in other countries that we trying to bring to moderation. We must lead by example instead of telling people to "go back to their country" or calling them names.

[shutupmurtha]

some one give me logical answers to the following QUESTIONS I will keep putting it up until some liberal gives me well reasoned arguments for these legitamte questions.

what makes sense about killing babies and loosening restrictions on terrorisits? What makes sense about killing babies and doing away with the Death penalty for murders? What makes sense about screaming hate all the time and giving no solutions? What makes sense about dumb conspiracy theories as basis for arguments? What makes sense about reaising taxes on those who pay 98% of the tax already? what makes sense of pulling out of war in the middle of it? what makes sense about allowing ILLEGAL immigrants to come in our country when they already fill over 25% of the federal prisons? what makes sense about calling a religion that blows people up nearly every day a peaceful religion and calling a relgion that has done more for the needy and hungry in the world than any government the real threat based on an reactionary event that happend hundreds of years ago? What makes SENSE about LIBERALISM?

[shutupmurtha]

Celes?? Answers please.

[tpeks40]

Bombing them back to the stone age? In regards to Pakistan, we must have meant last Thursday.

[shutupmurtha]

put your logic where your mouth is??? I am challenging you.

[shutupmurtha]

I thought pakistan was already in the stone age. When is their trip to the space station scheduled?

[shutupmurtha]

mikej17, Um do have an alternative or would you have said, oh im not going to do what I resolved to do i.e hunting down and killing terrorists, and simply allowed pakistan to hide info about OSama, is that OK with you, I hope you never run for president.
Feel free to answer the questions i ave listed.

[shutupmurtha]

some one give me logical answers to the following QUESTIONS I will keep putting it up until some liberal gives me well reasoned arguments for these legitamte questions.

what makes sense about killing babies and loosening restrictions on terrorisits? What makes sense about killing babies and doing away with the Death penalty for murders? What makes sense about screaming hate all the time and giving no solutions? What makes sense about dumb conspiracy theories as basis for arguments? What makes sense about reaising taxes on those who pay 98% of the tax already? what makes sense of pulling out of war in the middle of it? what makes sense about allowing ILLEGAL immigrants to come in our country when they already fill over 25% of the federal prisons? what makes sense about calling a religion that blows people up nearly every day a peaceful religion and calling a relgion that has done more for the needy and hungry in the world than any government the real threat based on an reactionary event that happend hundreds of years ago? What makes SENSE about LIBERALISM?

[shutupmurtha]

And please dont answer questions with questions because that is not answering the question.

ShutupMurtha wrote:

"LIBERALISM is a mental disorder."

It sounds as though you have a few mental disorders of your own.

[shutupmurtha]

It sounds as though you have a few mental disorders of your own.
Posted by mcdazz at 10:26 AM : Sep 22, 2006

again that proves my point, name calling, no answers. Just like Chavez, Kennedy, Howard Dean. Answer the questions, we are not kindergardners.

lol

[bobgee_1999]

Perhaps the reason no one bothers to explain these things to you, ShutupMurtha, is that it is evident by your atrocious spelling, syntax, grammar, disregard for capitalization and obvious bias, that you wouldn't understand them anyway. I find it curious that someone of your obvious limitations would indulge in trying to write anything at all for public consumption---it's sort of like being challenged to a race by a fat kid with asthma; you know you can make him look utterly ridiculous, but what's the point?

[shutupmurtha]

dude, answer the questions, pick one? Name calling is funny and all, but answer the question to prove me wrong. I am using logic, which is not typical of people with mental disorders, but you can have a different opinion on that.

what makes sense about killing babies and loosening restrictions on terrorists?

What makes sense about killing babies and doing away with the Death penalty for murders?

What makes sense about screaming hate all the time and giving no solutions? What makes sense about dumb conspiracy theories as basis for arguments?

What makes sense about reaising taxes on those who pay 98% of the tax already? what makes sense of pulling out of war in the middle of it?

what makes sense about allowing ILLEGAL immigrants to come in our country when they already fill over 25% of the federal prisons?

what makes sense about calling a religion that blows people up nearly every day a peaceful religion and calling a relgion that has done more for the needy and hungry in the world than any government the real threat based on an reactionary event that happend hundreds of years ago?

What makes SENSE about LIBERALISM?

[shutupmurtha]

bobgee_1999, he ha ehhehahha, yes attack my spelling I agree with you on that it is bad, but focus like a laser beam. WHAY CANT YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS? LOL, point out all the juvenille nonsense you want, but you are avoiding the questions. lol

[shutupmurtha]

I will add one.

What makes sense about criticizing Bush (or any conservative for that matter) for his speech OR SPELLING, but not offering any alternative solution to his policies or views?

[rsoxfan1123]

The whole Pakistan situation flies in the face of the War on Terror. We had Bin Laden trapped in the hills of Torah Borah and decided to invade Iraq (who had absolutely nothing to do with 9/11)instead of going after Bin Laden, leaving a token force in Afghanistan. Then the question would be, was the Bush adminstration inept in tracking/finding Bin Laden, or did they simply have another motive for invading Iraq? We know for sure that they weren't going to find Bin Laden in Iraq. Threatening Pakistan and leaving them to track down Bin Laden seems ridiculous.

ShutupMurtha wrote:

"again that proves my point...Answer the questions, we are not kindergardners."

I'm not so sure you aren't a "kindergardner".

I sincerely doubt you could actually formulate any kind of articulate argument.

I do wish that you would learn how to use a spell checker though.

[d-tiberius]

It seems silly that the comments people have made have diverged so far from the story.
This story unfortunately shows how far the neo-cons will go to get their wars leaving behind diplomacy.

[shutupmurtha]

d-tiberius, sorry but this liberal US bashing is making me sick. I am giving all of them a chance to give answers for their views.

[enlightened4-2009]

refering to (ShutupMurtha) comments made by certain individaul brings out their sheer ignorance and stupity. It also show their knowledge , which is fed from the dibocial media, which usually fabricates 90% of any story or event that is aired. I believe in rational thinking and analysing information from more than one source. good exmaple that i will give is that of british progranda war machine during the world war 2. the german bombing the UK with V2 rockets and the brits were saying that there was no damage done. which was being aired on the radio. after a while the germans thought this waste or time and rockets, if they are not effective. they piont i am trying to make is that american policy makers should realise the consquences of of their actions, which i believe are aware. but it will only affect their working class citzens. whom are seen as working ants. who have no real economic value. let them die and allow their theoires to become facts by allowing extremist groups, which are being paid by the secert american organisations.
I would is not a open book, there are elements, which a common man would not understand, unfortuantely it is beyond his/her mental capacity. this because he/she was not allowed to develope the capability of reasoning.
We must remember "what we sow today, is what we will reap tommorrow".

[rsoxfan1123]

The comments made by Pakistan about the US threatening to bomb their country need to be understood in the whole context in which they were made. Using Pakistan as a pawn seems pretty foolish if the Bush adminstration was serious about capturing Bin laden. Or did it better serve their purpose to leave a villain running around? It puts a face on the War on Terror and rallies public opinion (for awhile anyway)...Leaving him trapped in Torah Borah seems hard to explain otherwise.

What an excellent idea.

"Support us in the war on terror, or we will terrorize you and kill innocent people."

That pretty much sums up the policies of GW Bush and his cronies.

If only Bush and Cheney had half an IQ point between them.

[ronniehm]

Musharraf couldn't have been too insulted. It's 2006 and this is the first time he mentioned it. He was obviously not bombed back to the stone age, so he should spend his time keeping track of his centrifuges, not chatting with CBS.

[shutupmurtha]

This proves Musharaf is not one of our allies, he is just like the rest of the sand nations. I knew it all along, the Muslims hate us, I didnt understand why they would help. Now he is whinning on American TC. He is probably the REASON WE havent caught BIN LADEN YET. WHAT A MORON GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY and TAKE CHAVEZ and HITLER with you. Go back and play in your big primative sandbox....moron
Bush told the American people we would go after any COUNTRY that did anything to help terrorists....right. Did MUSHARAFFFFF think that meant we would bend him over and give him a spanking?..... It meant we would bomb the HELL out of them and rightfully so.

[robin456-2009]

ShutUPMurtha: You say the US would be the first to help other countries when help is needed. Where was the US during the genocide in Rwanda? Thousands of people were massacred. What is the US doing now to help the people in Darfur (where another massacre is taking place)? The truth is, the US and other Western countries only get involved when they have their own interests to protect. Don't believe that the US invaded Iraq to fight terrorism. It would be naive to believe that.

[rsoxfan1123]

The whole "War on Terror" concept is kind of a buzz word. The word "fascists", for example, seems to be fading in popularity. Perhaps it was a defense the Bush adminstration made against claims they THEY were the "fascists". Terms like that pretty much give legitimacy to a number of things that the adminstration is doing (CIA prisons, invading Iraq, etc.).

[shutupmurtha]

So the media fabricates 90% of the story? Im glad you are here to set us straight. So what is the real story on this than....enlightened4? I agree the media picks and chooses what is "important" in their minds regaurdless of what the public sees as important and I am critical of most of the media, but I dont know if we can verify that the media Fabricates 90% of the material. Now if you are speaking of Iran and Leftist Venezuela%u2019s media than you may be on to something.

[rsoxfan1123]

Hitler and real fascist governments typically hate the media and try to control it as completely as possible. It is not a good sign when a government despises free speech. "The whole "liberal media lies" complaints were pretty common from petty dictators for years before the Bush adminstration took over, now we hear them from our own government...

[zamanft]

Being a Pakistani, If I put Pakistan in the same situation, I would expect exactly the same from Pakitan. Because, we all know that "Might is Right". Therefore, I don't blame US, but the POWER which has always reacted in the similar manner throughout human history.

Regarding comments by "ShutupMurtha", its just a childish way of expression, without knowing what to say. To ShutupMurtha..... I don't see any difference between you and a religious fundamentalist, who are always lacking thinking power.

[shutupmurtha]

Our government isnt liberal. Perhaps I misunderstood your comment. I do not think our government has really any control over our media in this country. Look at the plethera of different views that are shown and the leaks from the government that are given.

[shutupmurtha]

zamanft, well than sir i think since I am "Laking Mental Power" you could enlighten me by answering a few of those questions.

[rsoxfan1123]

zamanft , it is interesting to hear from a Pakistani perspective. You're right, it is all a Power game and the politcal spin that entails.

[ronniehm]

rsoxfan, the media lies all the time. How does one point that out without being a fascist in your eyes?

[shutupmurtha]

zamanft, If you are a Pakistani, maybe you could tell your president that it is wrong to help terrorists. Do you agree with that? And maybe he could tell some of your fellow citizens to stop blowing things up and freaking out about cartoons, pope quotes, and everything else they dont like. Could you also tell him to tell his people that chanting "death to America" does not help us in the west like him or his country very much.

[shutupmurtha]

jh6379... Oh it doesn%u2019t make sense do you need it clarified? Why can you not answer the questions? This liberal bumper sticker approach to debate is ridiculous.