George Bush's Contribution to World Peace - Zardari's Interview to Washington Post

Pakistan President Asif ZardariAsif Zardari in his interview to Washington Post on September 27 stated that the “world is a safer place because of President George BushGeorge Bush’s leadership”, adding “it could have been much worse”. He also warned that “the axis of evil is growing” without specifying as to what constituted that “axis”. Zardari said that God had given him the opportunity to “successfully face this challenge”.

Similarly, while speaking on possibility of war with the US in his recent interview with CNN, Zardari said "Friendly fire is normalthing even among the US soldiers"! He added that "I won't be worried about that (encounter between the Pakistan and US soldiers). There has always been friendly fire even in your own wars, there is friendly fire and some time you get your own , so I would not be worried about it,I would be concerned if something like that happened"!

While talking about the Marriot Hotel blast, He confirmed (contradicting his own PM) that "the Government had thought of holding a dinner at Marriot Hotel, but the plan was changed about three days earlier. We were supposed to have dinner there at that night. The Speaker had actually booked the place (again contradicted by the Marriot Management)" He hurried to add that "there was no prior information about the bombing" - contrary to a statement made by the Advisor to the PM that Government had prior information about such possibility and that an attack on the VVIPs was avoided by holding the dinner at PM House.

In his address to the UN General Assembly and various interviews to the print and electronic media, Mr Zardari has completely ignored the ground realities which definitely have not been appreciated by most Pakistanis. The statement about George Bush’s leadership and world peace is the glaring example of Zardari’s negation of the world scenario consequent to US leadership’s onslaught on “world peace”. Even the Republicans in the US don’t believe Zardari’s statement. It is no more a secret that consequent to George Bush and his close policy makers’ endeavours to control World resources; the world is no more a safe place to live. Pakistan and the Region where it is located is defiantly the victim of “total insecurity”.

President Zardari’s statements and the role he has played during his US visit are hardly understood. What was required during this visit was to explain to our American friends that the policies they are following particularly in the region where Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran are located is not leading to world security and peace, and requires a fundamental change in line with the thinking and aspiration of the countries and their people. The US Administration has to be told in a frank and truthful way that its policies are only adding to the insecurity; increasing poverty; and consequently not helpful in fighting the terrorism. Respecting the sovereignty of the regional countries is yet another important issue which should have been more clearly emphasized in Mr. Zardari’s meetings with the President Bush which apparently has not happened. American’s are not all that vocal in placing sufficient financial resources at Pakistan’s disposal to meet its financial crises