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:
We are so hungry for some positive PR for Pakistan, we have all forgotten that unless PR translates into results it does not change anything.
And the fact of the matter is, except coming across as a guest who can stand his ground, his book and tv appearances are not going to solve anything. It might make Mush loyalist and Pakistani diaspora feel good about themselves but thats it.
I don’t think so many people except for Pakistanis will remember his tv presence a few months down the line and as rapidly has his book gone up in the bestseller list, it will come crashing down once the euphoria around it dies and people realize the inconsistencies in it.
He criticized AQKhan that he was egoistic and wanted to take all credit for the bomb. It was a team effort. AQKhan in all his interviews credited ZA Bhutto and Zia ulHaq for their support clearly mentioning that despite his not subscribing to their politics, the bomb would not have been possible without them. Isn’t Musharraf taking all the credit himself for taking 180 degree turn. I am sure a democratic government of Benazir or Nawaz Sharif would not have crumbled anymore before US threats. But atleast we could them later ask where did the money go for capturing Alqaeda. Who has the will to ask Musharraf because we are taking his word despite his changing his claims.
People who have read his book will realize that there is a lot of things written in it that will come to haunt Musharraf in times to come. He kept the naval chief and airforce chief ignorant about Kargil adventure, how can we believe that he would have taken Nawaz into confidence.
But hey, he is generating positive PR so lets forget other depressing hard facts for the time being.
Jyoti, I am not sure what to make of this comment, or your earlier ones. Why should it have as many responses, these are two very different events. Maybe if you add all the comments on the different posts on this trip it is equal. BUt I am stumped really by what the PURPOSE of your comment is. Is this what is called flaming? Just throwing in particular comments to flame others into a response. But so what? What is the point?
Wonder why this topic is not getting as many comments and participation as death of Bugati did?
Just in case people are interested in reading a different point of view than as expressed on this blog countless number of times.
http://chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00007248&cha nnel=civic center
Yes, I also felt that the interview went pretty well. I must admit I have had a lot of reservations about the way Musharraf has been promoting his book – but DrPak does make a valid point. Musharraf is also promoting Pakistan. And doing a good job of it.
I just wish there weren’t so many slip-of-tongues by his. He just dents (further) his own credibility – now he also seems to have backtracked on the claim that CIA paid Pak government. The man claimed so in his book and now he wants it edited! Bleh!