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Uploaded: Saturday, January 17, 2009, 9:38 AM

Poverty, illiteracy cause terrorism – Musharraf
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf packs Stanford auditorium Friday

by Chris Kenrick
Palo Alto Online Staff

Posted by Katherin Bolds, a resident of the Palo Alto Hills neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2009 at 10:08 pm

I attended this speech and liked this man's demeanor and sense of optimism. When I compare him to other muslim leaders or especially Arab leaders, I can at least understand his thoughts and communication.

The analogy of a tree he uses, should be common sense for us, but George Bush has really put America in a tough spot. I hope Obama and Hillary pay attention to the insights, and not throw out the 'baby with the bath water."

Thoouroughly enjoyed the talk, it was pin drop silence for the 50 minutes he spoke.

Posted by umar, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Jan 17, 2009 at 10:23 pm

Any one has the video of the event. Thanks.

Posted by Robert A Wodehouse, a resident of the St. Claire Gardens neighborhood, on Jan 18, 2009 at 9:20 am

It is surprising some people are buying the propaganda by Musharaff.

John Michael McConnell, the United States Director of National Intelligence, in a speech at Harvard University, soon after Mumbai massacre said that the same group responsible for the 2006 Mumbai train bombings was behind Mumbai attack of 2008.

Lashkar-e-Taiba is the jihadi terrorist wing of the armed forces of the Pakistan. There is no question of Lashkar terrorists operating independently.

The strategy of Pakistan army / ISI against Indian and Afghan civilians stands on one solid single pillar- PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY. This time in Mumbai they messed up in the execution and have been caught red handed.

They had gotten away so many times. Indians have to really thank Ajmal Amir Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist caught alive and the brave police man belonging to lower cadre of Mumbai police who was responsible for the capture of Mr.Kasab and died in the process.

LET terrorist group was involved in attacks in New Delhi in October 2005, and in Bangalore in December 2005. Examples of recent major terror attacks conducted by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan include a coordinated series of bombings in market and temple areas of the tourist city of Jaipur, Rajasthan (May 2008), an attack on a government paramilitary facility in Uttar Pradesh (December 2007), coordinated bomb blasts at court facilities in three cities in Uttar Pradesh (November 2007), an explosives blast in a cinema hall in Punjab (November 2007), two explosions at a popular park and restaurant in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (August 2007), an explosion at the main mosque in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (May 2007), the detonation of explosive devices on a train northwest of Delhi (February 2007), simultaneous attacks on Mumbai commuter trains (July 2006), simultaneous attacks on a train station and places of worship in Varanasi (March 2006), and simultaneous attacks on several markets in New Delhi (October 2005).

Contrary to some popular rumors, false hopes among Pakistanis the issue will not go away anytime soon. This is not an India-Pakistan issue, but an international one. India is going to blow hot and cold with revelations and media releases, to keep it going; and the international community (along with USA) is going to go along with India.

Time has arrived to tackle global terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.

Posted by perspective, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 18, 2009 at 1:12 pm

Katherine: Carter started, and Clinton continued the policies that put American in the tight spot that led to multiple attacks on Americans around the world for 30 years until 9/11..

somehow Bush has prevented another attack on us, and lowered worldwide terrorism attacks and number of deaths from attacks..

I call that good.

I fear we are returning to the same people who put in the place the policies that led to the original problem. I don't buy at all that the solution is money..decreasing poverty in the likes of Pakistan. Those in charge of terrorism are from middle and high class families. IN other words, money. They use the poor of their countries who have been brainwashed since toddlerhood ( the Jews killed Mickey Mouse's parents!!) to further their goals, which is the diversion of the arab "Street" from the misery caused by their own miserable tyrants.

It is naive to believe for one moment that throwing money at peole who do not have a voice in their conditions, in other words, do not have the liberty to vote, to speak, to build commerce, will solve any of the terrorism problem.

Note Iraq..terrorism on an ever continuing decline as the people choose life and freedom over hate of the Jews.

Posted by MushBS, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Jan 18, 2009 at 6:54 pm

What a farce from an accomplished manipulator of people!

There are other countries whose poverty and illiteracy match or exceed Pakistan's. Why are they not producing the terrorists that Pakistan has so easily and so successfully? The reason why Pakistan is University any aspiring terrorist wants to attend, or accomplished terrorist has graduated from, is simple: the sponsoring of terrorism as a state policy by the likes of Musharraf and his peers.

Pakistan didn't complain when it took in the billions given it for assistance during the war against Soviet occupation. Nor were questions asked when they channeled most of that money to train and build an infrastructure of Muslim fanatics ("jihadis") to extend state policy to gain control of the neighboring countries: Afghanistan and India (in Kashmir). Who created/sponsored/supported and recognized the Taliban? Musharraf and the organisation he led then, the ISI, and the political leadership in Pakistan. Who waged a proxy war in Kashmir? Musharraf and the ISI and the Pakistani leadership. And now these perpetrators are themselves under the gun of those they trained. Justice will be done when they reap, with their lives, what they had sown.

What a travesty of the truth, to see these perpetrators representing themselves as the victims even as they take our tax dollars and use it to sponsor terrorism as in the events in Mumbai recently proved.

Posted by Bangash Khan, a resident of another community, on Jan 20, 2009 at 7:18 am

Americans should remember the major role they played in creating the extremist forces of the 1980's, which morphed into Alqaeda/Taliban during the 1990's. Countries like Pakistan, which help you fight extremism should be appreciated and supported. The myth of American unilateralism was pretty well busted during the Bush years.

Posted by BangBangKhan, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Jan 20, 2009 at 7:59 am

Yes, we Americans do have a memory and do remember the role Pakistan played, and the money it got in return, well. We looked the other way--for a while--when Pakistan exported its nuclear technology to all and any buyers and offered its educational and training facilities for terrorists. Pakistan's habit of hunting with the hounds and running with the foxes has now got to stop for we fear it will engulf the region and the world in a cycle of violence that will annihilate Pakistan and needlessly preoccupy other civilized countries.