Adil Najam
A few readers have asked us to provide links to various media appearances by Gen. Musharraf here on ATP. A very good and constantly updated colelction is available at Trekker’s blog here.
Meanwhile, we are providing video clips of some of the most talked appearances (rather, those that are available on the web for linking).
Related ATP Posts on Gen. Musharraf’s new book, In the Line of Fire
First, the much talked about appearance on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show and then the apperance on 60 Minutes. Third we have updated this post to include the CNN interview by Wolf Blitzer. We have also added the most pertinent part of the White House Press Conference with President Bush and President Musharraf.
You can view his appearance on 60 Minutes here:
Here is the first half of his appearance in CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (cannot, yet, find the second half). FULL TRANSCRIPT of this interview can be read here:
Here is the middle part, the most pertinent and talked-about part, of the White House Press Conference with Presidents Bush and Musharraf:
Finally, here is the interview on PBS’s Charlie Rose, which has also been much discussed in the comments from our readers:
THE BOOK IS the biggest PR attempt to the WEST in a poisitve way…. lets just call it our side of story….. Big Ups to President Musharraf for awesome interviews and response.
I also enjoyed the Daily Show interview, but must agree with Fawad. It is very strange for a sitting head-of-state to go on a talk-show circuit and disclose sensitive information to promote an auto-biography. The prestige that goes with that office diminishes. That said, I think he answered Stewart’s last question well.
Frankly, other than he had a crush over a girl in the neighborhood when he was a teenager and a love affair later with a Bengali woman, Musharraf has not really said anything new in his book. Has he?
President Musharraf’s interview on NPR Morning Edition
I think the General did a fine job, and Jon Steward did a nice job interviewing him as well. I say this because for most Americans, Musharraf is relatively unknown despite his significant role in Bush’s War on Terror. It is more useful to be respectful, in this case, because Stewart can elicit more information from him.
I recall Stewart interviewing Richard Perle and showing him due respect despite Stewart’s obvious contrarian political views.
Perhaps it shows that comedians are professional too.