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:
Folks, here is an update of Gen. Musharraf’s media appearances that I just recieved from a friend (all times in US EST):
Monday, Sep 25
— “Today Show” on NBC: aired at 7:05am
— “Hannity & Colmes” on Fox: 9-10pm
— “Charlie Rose” on PBS: 11-12pm (date not confirmed)
Tuesday, Sep 26
— “The National” on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC): aired on AIH at 6:30pm, also on National tonight at 9pm on Newsworld, 10pm on CBC
— “Morning Edition” on NPR: 5-9am (date not confirmed)
— “Canada AM” CTV: aired on Sep 28 at 7:40am
— “Time” Magazine interview: story will run on 10/9 issue, on stands Monday, 10/2
— “The Situation Room” on CNN: live ~4:15-5:15pm
— “Daily Show” on Comedy Central: 11-11:30pm
— Lecture at Cornell (NY): 7:30pm-
Wednesday, Sep 27
— “Newsnight” on BBC: 10:30pm
— “The Times” interview: article will run on Thu, Sep 28
— “The Independent” interview: article will run on Fri, Sep 29
— “Meet the Press” on NBC: air on Sun Oct 1, 10:30-11:30am
Clips from CBS 60 Minutes can he seen here.
How would you guys react if Nawaz Sharif, when he was PM, had come to the US on a state visit and promoted sugar or sarya (steel rods) from one of his factories?
Guys,
couldn’t the threat have been to Mushy’s own rule rather than to Pakistan? After all, what makes more sense (and is *much* cheaper): regime change or bombing an intact country (with no oil) to stone age? it’s not that the US had no allies left within pakistani establishment. I’m sure there were plenty of loyalties up for grabs.
Something from Daily Dawn today:
http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/25/nat3.htm
[quote post=”319″]It was the fourth such national-level breakdown during the last seven years. After the breakdowns of 1999, 2000 and 2002, the government had expressed determination to conduct inquiries, fix responsibility and take culprits to task. But neither any finding was made public nor any official was taken to task.
Sunday’s breakdown was also followed by identical reaction – the minister of water and power and the prime minister ordering inquiries, asking Wapda to submit a report in the next 48 hours.
In all three previous reports, sources said, experts had blamed grossly-overloaded transmission system and suggested new projects to augment it. No individual was held responsible during the last three breakdowns, but the blame was squarely put on the weak system.
Keeping in view the previous experience, sources said the authority would again blame the over-stretched transmission system and suggest a few more projects.[/quote]
Another quip:
http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/25/top4.htm
[quote post=”319″]Mr Armitage who met Gen Musharraf in his hotel in Washington insisted that he had never used such a language and President Bush who met the general at the White House also expressed surprise at the revelation and asked “why now after five years and why in New York? “The answer, to quote President Bush, is: “He wants you to buy his book.â€