U.S.: Emergency Rule Must End In Pakistan

Washington's No. 2 Diplomat Delivers Blunt Message In Sitdown With Musharraf

(CBS/AP)  Washington's No. 2 diplomat delivered a blunt message to Pakistan's military, telling him that emergency rule must be lifted and his opponents freed ahead of elections.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte's visit was seen as a last best chance to avoid political turmoil in Pakistan. He met for more than two hours Saturday with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan's deputy army commander, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani.

"I urged the government to stop such actions, lift the state of emergency and release all political detainees," Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a news conference at the U.S. embassy at the end of his trip. "Emergency rule is not compatible with free, fair and credible elections."

But Negroponete also praised Musharraf's efforts in the war on terror, and said he was heartened by the announcement of an election date for January 9.

Musharraf has insisted - publicly and in his meeting with Negroponte - that he will not lift the widely criticized emergency powers unless the security situation improves.

Thousands of opponents have been jailed, Supreme Court judges purged and independent TV stations muffled since the state of emergency came into effect Nov. 3. Just ahead of Negroponte's visit, Musharraf freed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and a leading human rights activist, and loosened his restrictions on several independent television news outlets.
It's a familiar game of appeasement and concession, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar. A top U.S. official comes to town with a tough message, and the general lets a few banned television stations back on the air, and releases a few political prisoners.

It's a strategy designed to isolate those still banned, or imprisoned.

ARY-TV, for example, is still off the air because the owners have so far refused to cancel a political talk show hosted by Kashif Abbassi, reports MacVicar.

"They think I am too critical of government policy, that the program is not favorable to what the government says," said Abbassi.

In his discussion with Musharraf, Negroponte was measured in his comments, but expressed some impatience with Pakistan's president, saying he hoped to see more steps toward democracy soon. "There remain some other issues that are yet to be considered, or yet to be undertaken," he said, without going into detail.

An official in the president's office, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk with the media, said Musharraf told Negroponte the emergency was needed to hold a successful vote.

Going into Saturday's meeting, senior Bush administration officials were clear on what they wanted: an end to the emergency, a date set for legislative elections in January, the release of opposition leaders and that Musharraf step down as army chief.

[incog-nito]

When will emergency rule end in the U.S.?

[jerr11]

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[formrusmcsgt]

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[formrusmcsgt]

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[peaceprophet]

RON PAUL''S FOREIGN POLICY BOOK BECOMES BESTSELLER
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul''s new book, "A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship," broke into the best-seller''s list. On November 2, Congressman Paul''s collection of speeches on foreign policy from his 10-term career in the House of Representatives hovered at number 93 on the amazon.com top 100-selling books list, and continued to maintain its number one spot in the non-fiction government and economic policy genres. The book is a 30-year compilation of the Texas congressman and rising GOP presidential contender''s speeches from the congressional floor, and assorted foreign policy writings on constitutional republicanism and non-interventionism. "Dr. Paul''s message of freedom, prosperity and peace is a best-seller," said Paul campaign spokesman Jesse Benton. "The numbers don''t lie. Americans want a constitutional, humble foreign policy, which only Ron Paul can deliver in 2008."

[peaceprophet]

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[peaceprophet]

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On Veteran''s Day, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul today addressed a crowd of over 5,000 enthusiastic veterans and supporters in Philadelphia. The Veteran''s Day weekend rally took place at Independence Mall. Thousands of veterans and their friends and families heard country music superstar Rockie Lynne open the event for the Texas congressman. John Holland, the founder of a leading advocacy organization for troops, veterans, and POW/MIAs, delivered an enthusiastic endorsement of Congressman Paul, before the congressman addressed the crowd. The rally coincided with the launch of the Veterans for Paul Coalition, which is composed of hundreds of war veterans. "Dr. Paul''s support among veterans is extremely high," said Paul campaign spokesman Joe Seehusen. "These great patriots who have fought for our country know that only Dr. Paul''s foreign policy of peace and secure borders can guarantee true national security, and they want him fighting for our country''s freedom." Congressman Paul was himself a Captain in the Air Force who served as a flight surgeon during the "totally unnecessary and illegal" Vietnam war. He receives more campaign contributions from former and active military and military affiliates than any of the other 2008 presidential candidates.