BY THE BOOK
September 25, 2006
Simon & Schuster Threatened to Bomb Pakistan "Back to the Stone Age"
New York City, NY | The term "literary bombshell" has taken on a whole new meaning with the revelation that U.S. media giant Viacom threatened a devastating military attack if President Pervez Musharraf didn't cooperate with writing his autobiography In the Line of Fire.
The Pakistani leader allegedly said the threat from Simon & Schuster publicity director Carisa Hays was delivered to Musharraf's literary agent, Chris Calhoun.
Musharraf, a seasoned military officer who has trained commandos, led troops into battle, seized control of his country and escaped three assassination attempts, said he could neither confirm nor deny the report since he is in critical negotiations with Viacom to make his life story into a mini series.
His book junket, which included an exclusive interview Sunday with 60 Minutes on CBS (also owned by Viacom), officially kicked off last week at a White House press conference and a glowing endorsement from President Bush himself.
Musharraf also has guest appearances scheduled on NPR, PBS, NBC's Today show and Meet the Press, ABC's The View, Telemundo's Sabado Gigante and Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, all of whom have threatened to bomb Pakistan back to the stone age.
