OL' MUSHARAFF SURE KNOWS HOW TO SNUFF OUT FREEDOMS
"President" Musharaff of Pakistan dislikes democracy. He's become our ally because he sort of helped us when we went into Afghanistan to (Pick One): a) overthrow the Taliban b) permit women to wear jeans or c) to destroy some Al Quaeda camps.
To procure his buddyship we piped over a boatload of money (see, CIA, non-itemized budget) and talked him up. Quicker than you can say "Shah of Iran" he basically became a military dictator.
But you knew all that.
Now he's shut down the democratic institutions and even put some of his enemies on house arrest.
This, however, is not your garden variety, mouthbreathing, junta thug. This is a smart guy. He really wants to wipe out individual liberty and political discourse. He has cleverly figured out that the countries which have the fewest lawyers per square mile have the fewest freedoms. Thus, he has not really horsed around too much with religious leaders or even media. He has gone after the defenders of liberty and freedom, the lawyers and the judges. Shakespeare had this figured out a long time ago and Ol' Mooshy was smart enough to read and learn. If you want an oppressive society where people do as they're told, first "Kill all the Lawyers".
He's a smart guy but he better also be a careful one. Lawyers, as a group, are resourceful and they will find ways to combat this, ways Mooshy won't anticipate.
Oh, yeah. This just in: Mooshy's version of Gonzo says there will be elections in January. Sure there will, Bunky.
posted by UMRBlog @ 07:39
9 comments
9 Comments:
Having invested so much in Musharraf, we have little choice but to continue to back him, hoping he can get control of the situation before the unthinkable happens; a takeover by extremist elements.
What's really terrifying is that all the protesters out in the streets are lawyers. Now that's an extremist element.
All,
Funny paradox there. Could apply to about any country except Russia (the concept of honest advocacy having been consumed by the tragic Great Russian Personality).
When it comes to protecting their clients and preventing disaster, lawyers are extraordinarily risk-averse. When it comes to risking their own skins or wealth or position to support a legal system guaranteeing basic human rights, we take wild risks. In our country, we saw it with the Padilla lawyers.
I am told that there is a a lot of ballsy activity in Iran and Turkey by lawyers when folks are just carted off by the authorities.
Your humor is noted and appreciated but the directed nature of the Moosy moves shoes how committed he is to crushing opposing views and the actions of the lawyers and judges show how much these folks are willing to give up to preserve a constituional system.
TYFCB
Pakistan is not, in fact, teeming with responsible liberals and democrats. There are some of these brave and heroic souls, yes; but what Pakistan really teems with is various lunatic factions of the Jihad. Factions that are a heartbeat or two away from a nuclear arsenal.
1214,
Are you just stating your take on Pakkie demographics or are you making an argument IN FAVOR of suspending Constitutional and Human Rights and their enforcement measures?
TYFCB
1232
Just saying, be careful what you wish for.
I’m also waiting for the ABA or some other lawyers group to make a big deal out of this, and to remind everyone just how important lawyers are, which will of course make me want to puke. Nothing gets some lawyers going as much as people taking shots at them - in this case unfortunately literally, because it gives some of them a chance to expound on how if not for the profession then society would be in chaos, blah blah blah.
I really hope they don’t try to draw any comparison, because it seems the lawyers over there are actually facing real danger fighting for something they all believe in. Too late, huh?
So you like foreign lawyers OK but not American lawyers.
When you experience a civil wrong in our country, be sure to hire a plumber to assist you.
TYFCB
Like I said, too late, huh?
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