Bush denies threatening Pakistan

RAW STORY
Published: Friday September 22, 2006

At a joint press conference today, United States President George W. Bush denied knowledge of a phone conversation in which the US threatened to attack Pakistan, RAW STORY has learned.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan has claimed that former MushDeputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called him after the September 11, 2001 attacks, promising retaliation if Pakistan didnn't co-operate with United States operations in the region.

"The first I heard of this is when I read it in the newspaper today," Bush told reporters. "I guess I was taken aback by the harshness of the words."

"I don't know of any conversation that was reported in the newspaper like that," the US leader insisted. "I just don't know about it."

Armitage reportedly told Musharraf, "Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age."

Armitage told reporters today that he recalls a "quite strong" conversation with Musharraf, but denies ever making a threat.

Musharraf made the claim while promoting a new book for an upcoming episode of "60 Minutes." "I am launching my book on the 25th," he told reporters, "and I am honor-bound to Simon & Schuster not to comment on the book before that day."

"In other words," Bush interjected, "buy the book is what he's saying."