One Question with Bush

Bush denies double standard for dictators in Burma, Pakistan

RAW STORY Published: Thursday November 8, 2007 del.icio.us
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At a recent joint press conference with President Bush and French President Sarkozy, a reporter queries Bush on the disparity between actions taken with the Myanmar junta and those in response to Pakistan's president-turned-dictator Musharraf in their recent hostilities against democratic activity within their borders.

Transcript follows:

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REPORTER: Mr. President, you came down so hard on Burma and other nations for their crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrators, yet you seem to be giving Musharraf a pass. So, the question is: Why are you going so soft on Musharraf? Is there a double-standard?

BUSH: I spoke to President Musharraf right before I came over here to visit President Sarkozy, and, uh, my message was that we believe strongly--in elections, and you ought to have elections soon. And you need to take off your uniform.

You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time.

So I had a very frank discussion with him. Look: Our objective is the same in Burma as it is in Pakistan, and that is to promote democracy. There is a difference, however: Pakistan has been on the path to democracy. Burma hadn't been on the path to democracy, and it requires different tactics to achieve the common objective. And, uh, as I told you, I just spoke to President Musharraf before I came here and my message was very plain, very easy to understand, and that is: "The United States wants you to have the elections as scheduled, and take your uniform off."

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The Associated Press report is available HERE.

ALSO SEE -- CNN: 'The price for backing dictators' may be to box America in

The following video is from CBS.com, broadcast on November 7, 2007.