Don't you call the trip short and return home?
"Pakistan leader tours Europe during disaster" by Griff Witte, Washington Post | August 7, 2010
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A politician with a 20 percent approval rating might not appear to have much to lose. But President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, his standing already seemingly at rock bottom, elicited a new level of public scorn this week.
Yeah, I guess it can't hurt him all that much.
With much of his nation under water after the worst flooding to hit Pakistan in living memory, Zardari has been touring Europe. As helicopters rescued stranded residents from the surging river waters, Zardari choppered to his family’s chateau in France. After riots and a suicide bomber wreaked further havoc, Zardari dined in the English countryside with Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain.
Zardari is an important US ally who came to power just two years ago on a wave of public sympathy following the assassination of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
It is a terrible thought; however, I sometimes wonder if he was not involved somehow.
Related: Throwing More Dirt on Bhutto's Grave
CUI BONO?
Not like spouses ever kill each other over a lot less in this world or anything.
Long dogged by corruption allegations, Zardari already had been struggling with a perception that he is out of touch.
Who, Mr Ten-Percent?
Ever notice ALL OUR ALLIES have those qualities in common, America?
With Pakistan’s new private television channels airing split-screen shots of Zardari’s European travels on one side and Pakistani villages being swept away on the other, that view has solidified.
Yeah, I can not imagine a greater contrast.
The president’s trip has also come to symbolize a government response to the floods that victims say has been disorganized and slow off the mark.
Ever notice that seems to be true of all governments?
Also read: Pakistani Democracy Has Drowned In The Floods
Zardari’s critics have compared his behavior since the floods began to President George W. Bush’s handling of Hurricane Katrina....
And in that sense, I truly grieve for the Pakistan people.
It's a horrible feeling to know that despite your personal suffering your government doesn't give a s*** about you.
Zardari has been out of the country all week, visiting the prime ministers of in France and Great Britain.
In London yesterday, Zardari said he is willing to consider negotiations with the Taliban in Pakistan.
What, what, what?!?!!
“We never closed the dialogue,’’ Zardari said, without saying when the talks could resume. “We had an agreement, which they broke. [Talks will resume] whenever they feel . . . they can’t win.’’
You better watch it, buddy!
U.S. never likes to hear that kind of talk coming from one of its own.
You talk to Karzai lately?
Zardari’s backers say the criticism of his British trip is politically motivated, and that the task of running the government falls to the prime minister. Indeed, parliament this year passed a constitutional amendment that makes the president, at least on paper, little more than a figurehead.
Oh, so this is really just about this nothing PoS gallivanting around Europe on Pakistani taxpayer dime while they cling to life on any scrap of land they can find.
I wonder how the "peace talk" talk was received.
