ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 30 - President Pervez Musharraf announced in a nationwide television address on Thursday that he would continue as the army chief despite his pledge last year to give up the post by the end of 2004.
"I have decided to retain both offices," he said. "In my view, any change in internal or external policies can be extremely dangerous for Pakistan."
He added that he was responding to "the voice of the majority."
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NYT.
Amazing what you can do with a 'mandate'. I talked about this a couple days ago. Wonder why Bush isn't saying anything about Musharraf retaining power instead of moving Pakistan toward democracy? I mean, that's why we attacked Iraq, right? We wanted to build a democracy there. At least, that's the latest excuse. How come none of our Islamic allies in the region are democracies? Okay, maybe Egypt, though that's a stretch. We make alliances with kings and despots when it suits, but we'll force democracy on the one who 'tried to kill my daddy'.
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