“I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world.”

– President Bush, in India on Friday

Close but no cigar:

• Pakistanis aren’t Arabs.
• Pakistan is not a democracy, as Bill Maher pointed out on “Real Time” last night. It is a military dictatorship under Gen. Musharraf who overthrew the last elected government in 1999.

Later, Scott McClelland swept up the president’s the horse hockeys:

McClellan told reporters that Bush meant to say Pakistan would be a force for freedom and moderation in the Muslim world. Pakistan is not an Arab country.

Here’s what happened: The White House message team drafted a boilerplate statement about Pakistan for the president’s farewell address in India.

President Bush’s job is simple — presidenting 101: Read the statement, remember the statement and speak it in front of cameras.

But he can’t even do the simple stuff competently.

I’m sure two errors in 30 words is not a record for the president but you would think that with all their other troubles, they would be at the top of their game.