In the wake of the tragic and disturbing news out of Pakistan, most of the presidential candidates rushed out pro forma statements of condolences and concern with varying skill. Only Bill Richardson had the temerity to go further. Richardson considered the immediate, chaotic aftermath of a potentially destabilizing act of violence the opportune time to propose dramatic policy actions. Quoth the man who bases his candidacy on his foreign policy expertise:
The United States government cannot stand by and allow Pakistan's return to democracy to be derailed or delayed by violence.
We must use our diplomatic leverage and force the enemies of democracy to yield: President Bush should press Musharraf to step aside, and a broad-based coalition government, consisting of all the democratic parties, should be formed immediately. Until this happens, we should suspend military aid to the Pakistani government. Free and fair elections must also be held as soon as possible.
Surprisingly for a candidate who so often proclaims his seriousness bona fides, Richardson doesn't address the practicalities of what will happen between Musharraf's immediate resignation and the free and fair elections that will happen "as soon as possible." Is the pragmatic foreign policy veteran actually envisioning fundamentalist Jihadists co-governing with people who had a woman as their standard-bearer?
In effect, Richardson wants to kick a jihadist-infested country with nuclear weapons that's teetering on the edge of absolute chaos over that edge. For this clumsy effort to distinguish himself from the presidential pack, Richardson wins Campaign ‘08's "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt" award.
Congratulations Governor!
