So, is this a dry run for us to be 'Musharraf'd'?

[seafan]

Amazing, the details gleaned from a foreign source two days ago, that are just now trickling in to the US...


Pakistan at 'dangerous' juncture

MATTHEW PENNINGTON
Associated Press
November 3, 2007 at 10:19 PM EST

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — General Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday, suspending the constitution, replacing the chief justice before a crucial Supreme Court ruling on his future as president, and plunging the country deeper into political turmoil.

The government blocked transmissions of all but state-run TV and cut telephone services in Islamabad, where paramilitary soldiers swarmed around the court and parliament. Police started rounding up opposition politicians, and there were reports of aerial gunfire in the southern city of Karachi, but the capital was quiet.
State-run PTV reported that the country's top judge, who had emerged as the main check on Gen. Musharraf's dominance, was replaced.
Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif demanded the military leader step down and urged Pakistanis to rise up against him. He spoke from Saudi Arabia, where he was deported in September after attempting to return from exile.

Another former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, returned immediately from Dubai to Karachi, where police escorted her from the airport. She escaped an assassination bid in the city last month that killed more than 140 people.
"I agree with him that we are facing a political crisis, but believe the problem is dictatorship, I don't believe the solution is dictatorship," she told Sky News television by telephone on her arrival.
Ms. Bhutto later told the CBC she would hold talks with leaders of other political parties to "build the domestic pressure" for Gen. Musharraf to restore the constitution and hold "fair elections on schedule."

.....

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it was "highly regrettable" that Pakistan's president had declared a state of emergency. She urged restraint on all sides and a swift return to democracy.
The United States "does not support extraconstitutional measures," Ms. Rice said from Turkey, where she was participating in a conference with Iraq's neighbours.

.....

A copy of the emergency order obtained by The Associated Press justified the declaration on the grounds that "some members of the judiciary are working at cross purposes with the executive" and "weakening the government's resolve" to fight terrorism.
The provisional constitution order allows courts to function but suspends some fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, including freedom of speech. It also allows authorities to detain people without informing them of the charges.

PTV reported that a new chief justice had been appointed to replace Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, whom Gen. Musharraf tried and failed to oust this spring, sparking a popular movement against military rule. Judge Abdul Hameed Dogar was sworn in by Gen. Musharraf in his place.
Military vehicles patrolled and troops blocked roads in the administrative heart of the capital. Paramilitary troops with automatic weapons and standing behind rolled barbed wire blocked access to an official compound housing legislators. Relatives of legislators and even a ruling party senator were barred from crossing.

.....

If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator. ----George W. Bush, December 18, 2000, CNN

National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, May 9, 2007

NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51

HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD-20

Subject: National Continuity Policy


Purpose

(1) This directive establishes a comprehensive national policy on the continuity of Federal Government structures and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Federal continuity policies. This policy establishes "National Essential Functions," prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.

Definitions

(2) In this directive:

(a) "Category" refers to the categories of executive departments and agencies listed in Annex A to this directive;

(b) "Catastrophic Emergency" means any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions;

(c) "Continuity of Government," or "COG," means a coordinated effort within the Federal Government's executive branch to ensure that National Essential Functions continue to be performed during a Catastrophic Emergency;

(d) "Continuity of Operations," or "COOP," means an effort within individual executive departments and agencies to ensure that Primary Mission-Essential Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies;

(e) "Enduring Constitutional Government," or "ECG," means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers among the branches, to preserve the constitutional framework under which the Nation is governed and the capability of all three branches of government to execute constitutional responsibilities and provide for orderly succession, appropriate transition of leadership, and interoperability and support of the National Essential Functions during a catastrophic emergency;

(f) "Executive Departments and Agencies" means the executive departments enumerated in 5 U.S.C. 101, independent establishments as defined by 5 U.S.C. 104(1), Government corporations as defined by 5 U.S.C. 103(1), and the United States Postal Service;

(g) "Government Functions" means the collective functions of the heads of executive departments and agencies as defined by statute, regulation, presidential direction, or other legal authority, and the functions of the legislative and judicial branches;

(h) "National Essential Functions," or "NEFs," means that subset of Government Functions that are necessary to lead and sustain the Nation during a catastrophic emergency and that, therefore, must be supported through COOP and COG capabilities; and

(i) "Primary Mission Essential Functions," or "PMEFs," means those Government Functions that must be performed in order to support or implement the performance of NEFs before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency.

Policy

(3) It is the policy of the United States to maintain a comprehensive and effective continuity capability composed of Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government programs in order to ensure the preservation of our form of government under the Constitution and the continuing performance of National Essential Functions under all conditions.

.....

(MORE)

Bush readies government by executive order

November 2, 2007

Faced with potential gridlock almost across the board, Bush has ordered his staff to prepare a variety of executive orders and administrative actions that will let him end-run Congress for the remainder of his term. This has been done by presidents before, but Bush's plans seem more extensive. White House officials say that Bush is considering a lengthy series of unilateral actions on hot-button topics such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels by encouraging alternative energy sources, limiting the importation of dangerous toys from China, restricting illegal immigration but still allowing needed agricultural workers to enter the country, improving veterans' healthcare, and alleviating air-traffic congestion.

"He wants to be thoughtful about this," says a senior White House official. "In almost every case, we would like to see legislation." But if Congress can't or won't act, Bush tells aides, he will move ahead on his own. Of course, this will further inflame the Democrats and make cooperation on Capitol Hill even less likely.

So, what's the general consensus here?

[Blashyrkh]

1. You probably need to shrink some of that text first

But yes, I made the prediction within an hour of hearing the developments.

I believe Pakistan is a test run for declaration of martial law, in the same way Zimbabwe is a test run for the destruction of the economy.

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. That's what I said to my husband the day this happened.

"Pay attention to what the Psycho-in-chief says about this because it's a test for us." he, as usual, rolled his eyes at me.:(

[Blashyrkh]

6. I get that a lot, the eyes rolling.

I watched a documentary on Zimbabwe two nights ago and the way they were talking about the "destruction" of the economy, it painted the entire thing as deliberate. Why destroy an economy? To study the results.

It also explains why no one has done ANYTHING in the last decade to arrest the problem. Because it's not a problem. It's an experiment.

[Zywiec]

7. I think it's being used as a teleprompter somewhere. n/t

[earth mom]

2. I've been wondering the same thing.

:scared:

[Rex]

3. Is he a future Saddam

or a future ________?

[blues90]

5. Could be , many people will dissagree

I think there is more to this than meets the eye or the ears . I feel we are so close now and we may not have elections at all in 2008 .

That's just where I am right now . I have a difficult time believing that this admin has any intention of leaving just because of elections after all they have done and planned up to this point .

It's not like all this began 7 years ago , it began long before this and now it's playing out , people are either not aware or they just can't believe this can happen here just like many people will close their ears to any talk about 9/11 if it strays from the official story .

I fight common sense not to believe it everyday , this is what I'm left with .