Adil Najam
Just got hold of a list of major media appearances that Gen. Pervez Musharraf will be making as part of his book tour to promote In The Line of Fire: A Memoir. The book is publsihed by Simon and Schuster which will be handing much of the book tour, although it is clear that he will be asked about and will speak about much more than just the book.
(BTW, there is also a White House meeting with President Bush on Friday; so Gen. Musharraf will remain busy).
ATP had alreday written about the general’s appearance on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show, and we have a ccurrently ongoing ATP Poll on Grading Gen. Musharraf’s Performance in office. I am sure there will be other appearances too, but here is a list of the key ones.
Sept. 24: 60 Minutes
Sept. 25: NBC’s Today Show
Sept. 26: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Sept. 27: NPR’s Morning Edition
Oct. 1: NBC’s Meet The Press
Although there are always surprises, those familiar with the US media landscape would agree that one could express the toughest questions on Meet The Press with Tim Russert and The Dialy Show with Jon Stewart. The Today Show and Morning Edition appearances are more likely to focus on the ‘softer’ and more personal questions. 60 Minutes can go eitehr way, depending on who is interviewing him, but is likely to be a mix of personal and political issues.
Also heard on the internet that the ghost writer for the book is Humayun Gauhar. I am not at all sure if this is true or not. If this is, in fact, true that would be something. Humayun Gauhar is another ‘PR maven’, and son of Ayub Khan’s media guru, Altaf Gauhar. Reportedly, Ayub Khan’s biography, Friends, Not Masters, was ghost-written by Altaf Gauhar.
If true, the coincidence and the connection would be just a little too perfect. Which is why I remain skeptical about the authenticity of this rumor. Readers, does anyone have a sense if this is true or not?
Video clips (in three parts) of Bush-Musharraf press conference at the White House on Sept. 22:
[quote comment=”3033″]All is not well in North Waziristan and Talibans are making a resurgence in Afghanistan despite average of 50 “suspected” militants being killed in skirmishes daily. Hope nothing significant happens as long as he is in US.[/quote]
A columnist recently suggested that this is actually a positive move. Pakistan will now attempt to solve the trouble in tribal lands the way it has been done for centuries, with negotiations, bribes–sticks as well as carrots. An improvement over the American tactic of “bomb’em to hell.”
[quote]
With Hudood Ordinance, Baluchistan, Waziristan, Abdul Qadeer Khan; Musharraf has a lot on his plate. He will need to make a lot of wild statements to hold his own during all these shows.[/quote]
Regarding Hudood Oridnance and women’s rights, now that the government is starting to back away from their initiatives, I think some civil groups are realizing that they need to start work at the grass-roots level. In my book, putting in the hard work of convincing the population is always better than imposing a solution, even if that means that a few more years of hardship.
This interview is indeed dynamite. Whatever else happens, the book will sell; I just ordered by copy. Its all over the news now. According to the UK newspaper, Times:
“the President of Pakistan, claimed last night that the Bush Administration threatened to bomb his country “into the Stone Ageâ€
He is indeed a brave man to go up against Jon Stewart. I can not wait.
P.S. Can someone please tell Kasuri to tone down his swagger a little.
I am really intrigued by this thing about Humayun Gohar being the ghost rider. I agree with you that it is probably too cute to be true. Someone would have figured out the irony of this since his father had ghost written for Ayub Khan.
Adnan, this a first of series of dumbfounding statements you will here during his book tour.
All is not well in North Waziristan and Talibans are making a resurgence in Afghanistan despite average of 50 “suspected” militants being killed in skirmishes daily. Hope nothing significant happens as long as he is in US.
With Hudood Ordinance, Baluchistan, Waziristan, Abdul Qadeer Khan; Musharraf has a lot on his plate. He will need to make a lot of wild statements to hold his own during all these shows.
This is going to be one wild ride.