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:
Pakexpat,
First of all, ZAB was never my hero and I haven’t said it in any of my comments. I did, however, develop sympathy and respect for him when he died — the way he was killed and the way he faced death. And again, pointing out faults of Bhutto or Musharraf would not wash away the sins of your “hero”.
Secondly, your “theories” or rather conjectures about the selflessness of your “hero” sound a bit far fetched. From his material acquistions and lifestyle, the news of which had been making the rounds of Islamabad much before his detention, he didn’t look like the type of person who would carry the cross for someone else.
MQ,
Had AQKhan refused to apologize, all the blame for nuclear technology transfer would have fallen on Pakistan Army and Pakistan Airforce. Western media rather than blaming the rogue scientist would have been blaming the rogue nation or the rogue army and sanctions would have been imposed on us like North Korea or Iran.
It would have been humiliating for Mush, Pakistan Army and Pakistan. It would have meant no F-16s (would not have made a difference as we are getting them at humiliating terms anyway). So to save the nation from humiliation, AQ Khan has offered his own humiliation (A theory). I don’t expect such selfless behaviour from an army man who doesn’t even give up his uniform despite committing to do so.
I am not at all claiming AQKhan is innocent. I am just suggesting he be afforded a chance to tell his story and defend the accusations. If he is proven a thief, renounce him all you want. But don’t consider the public apology as admission of guilt. Its universally accepted that confession under pressure is not admissible as evidence.
Similarly, ZAB may be a hero to you but to a lot of people he is a villain; catalyst in the seperation of East Pakistan on record for saying that he will break the leg of politicians who travelled to East Pakistan. But thats a different topic altogether.
The very reasons govt. can’t lay hands on AQK can be seen in this thread. Emotions often get the better of pakistanis. MQ I think pretty much covered the entire saga in his posts and I couldn’t agree more with him.
MQ the point is tht we pakistanis have a habit of disgracing our heroes.It hurts when u refers the word “steal” with AQK.In the history of this country evry1 has repented on what he has given good to pakistan.i m just saying tht y the hell r u ppl backing musharaff on the AQK stance.You know he has said AQK as a greedy person in front of whole media just to get promo o his book.He has crossed limits…I heard sher afgan niazi sayin tht musharaff shud be praised tht how tactfully he settled the chapter of A Q khan.i think he should be slammed instead of praised of declaring A Q khan as a theif and closing the chapter…
Secondly u guyz be logical tht A Q khan carrying those materials to N.Korea and iran and our army watching whole drama…These are not chocolates packets tht u r loading on C-130’s and loading to iran and N.korea.If A Q khan is involved he should have been backed by whole of the armed forces and intelligence.This isnt a single handed move…Be sensible
Instead of AQK,we should apologize him….
[quote comment=”3720″]
“My contention in AQKhan episode is that he is not allowed to tell his side of story or defend the accusations levelled against him. Regarding the official pardon, he could have been made a scapegoat in national interest(just a theory).”
[/quote]
PatExpat,
My contention in AQKhan episode is that he is not allowed to tell his side of story or defend the accusations levelled against him. Regarding the official pardon, he could have been made a scapegoat in national interest (just a theory).
My answer to this is, he had a choice to refuse to apologize, that is, if he was not guilty of wrongdoing. After all he was a national “hero”. Heroes don’t cave in under threats. (Remember the ZAB example?) One cannot forget the pathetic image of a contrite looking Khan apologizing to the nation and asking for a pardon on the natioanl TV.
I have said it before and will say it again that stealing for personal gains cannot be justified for any reason — except, perhaps, if one is starving and steals some food to survive. AQK was not exactly starving. And we are not talking of some petty theft.
And, by the way, Musharraf’s wrongs do not make AQK’s right.