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:
Wasn’t at the GW event – rather the event held by the Pakistani Embassy at a local hotel. There was no Q&A session.
Nicely organized – valet parking, more or less on time, orderly security processing and a medley of Pakistani patriotic songs. The only unfortunate thing was that I had to see and listen to a 20 year old Vital Signs video of Dil Dil Pakistan…ouch!
Musharraf is much more intereting to listen to than any of his ministers or advisors around him including Shaukat Aziz. I am sure he will do well on his TV interviews. Even his book is likely to be more interesting.
I wonder, however, if it is ethical for him to promote his book while on a state visit. Isn’t there a conflict of interests? After all, he would be receiving money and royalties for the book, unless, of course, he plans to donate all that money to some public cause.
Adnan,
I agree with you mostly. However, I think it would have been better if his wife had spoken about one of the many other issues instead of praising her husband.
I love Musharraf’s directness, but at times he came across as a bit less dignified than I would have liked.
Pindiwalla, if you were there, I was wondering if you or your fellow students did not use the opportunity to ask a MEANINGFUL question such as whether or not Musharraf will allow mainstream parties to come back to the political fold now that we have seen the disasters of the MQM and the MMA.
Adnan, Eidee Man, maybe one of you coudl explain for the rest of us what the incident with the Minister was about?
Eidee Man,
I don’t think it was stereotyping pakistani women. In such settings it is ok for the wife to introduce the husband even though I think she did just an ok job. The stunt from the minister to come up and speak also shed light on a very human and approachable side of the ruler, who is technically a dictator. Could anyone do that to Zia and Ayub? I don’t think so. Despite the “jee sir” realities of Islamabd I think it was a good PR stunt.
Pindiwalla,
He did capture my attention as well with his frankness and directness at the GW event. I wonder if anyone could ask him about Sherpaos, Chaudris and the use of these certified criminals in his government. I think glass will be more than half-filled if these crooks weren’t there. People close to him argue that they are a political need but I say it is a lose lose situation to have them along given their “long” track criminal record.