Musharraf refuses to see reality

In a speech at Stanford Musharraf claimed poverty and illiteracy cause terrorism but then went on to admit most terrorists are well off and educated. Mercury News

Terrorism is often caused by poverty and illiteracy, he said. But many of the terrorists responsible for major events such as 9/11 were neither poor nor illiterate. Their anger came from hopelessness and powerlessness in the face of unresolved political disputes, he said.

"The anger and frustration among Muslim youths is exploited by groups following misrepresented views of Islam, and they indoctrinate them," he said.

Then Musharraf goes on to blame the US for terrorism. It's always someone else's fault, never their own.

To defend his country, he described Pakistan's long struggle with terrorism, beginning with its U.S.-aided fight against the Soviet Union with Afghanistan in the '80s. After the Soviets were defeated, the region was left "all alone" by the West, he said. The armed, trained fighters from the war coalesced and formed al-Qaida, he said. Then, when the Taliban emerged in the mid-'90s, they pushed 4 million refugees into Pakistan, he said.

"Pakistan's social fabric got torn," he said. "And all this had to be handled by the army, the government and the intelligence organizations of Pakistan. No help from anyone."

And finally, when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, the Taliban and al-Qaida hid in the hills of Pakistan.