"Incredulity" doesn't cover it

"Several outside analysts and a key Democratic lawmaker expressed incredulity over Bush's comments..."

Those comments: Bush More Emphatic In Backing Musharraf

President Bush yesterday offered his strongest support of embattled Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, saying the general "hasn't crossed the line" and "truly is somebody who believes in democracy."

Bush spoke nearly three weeks after Musharraf declared emergency rule, sacked members of the Supreme Court and began a roundup of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists.

Bush was asked in the interview if there is any line Musharraf should not cross. "He hasn't crossed the line. As a matter of fact, I don't think that he will cross any lines," Bush replied, according to an ABC transcript. ". . . We didn't necessarily agree with his decision to impose emergency rule, and . . . hopefully he'll get . . . rid of the rule.

"He's also advanced democracy in Pakistan," Bush said. "He has said he's going to take off his uniform. He's said there will be elections... and so far I've found him to be a man of his word."

At this point, I can believe that Musharraf is "a man of his word" a lot more than I can believe the same about our president, Mr. George W. Bush. The man has lost even the smallest shred of credibility.

How is it even possible, even for a man well-practiced in the arts of dissembling, to make such statements with a straight face?

Musharraf is a man who "truly" "believes in democracy" and has "advanced democracy in Pakistan." Yes. As a true believer in democracy, this person deposed a democratically elected leader in a military coup, and just recently "began a roundup of journalists, lawyers and human rights activists", brutally beating them bloody and senseless in the public streets. These facts are undisputed. And we are now told that this is the way he goes about "advancing democracy".

Our president believes these actions haven't "crossed the line". Which line is that, Mr. Bush? The line established by famous democracy advancing regimes of the past, such as those of Mussolini, Stalin, and Pol Pot? If that is the line to which you are referring, Mr. Bush, I suppose we would have to admit that you are correct. And then we would also be obligated to add, that if this constitutes your standard for "democracy", then you, sir, are a deranged, odious, and thoroughly ill specimen of humanity, unfit to hold any elected office in our nation.