Pakistan emergency
is what bloggers in Pakistan are saying about President Musharraf's decision to impose a state of emergency.
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Comments on the American news channels including CNN and Fox based on interviews with "experts" paints a grim picture both for the present situation and future prospects. Secretary of State Dr. Rice spoke with Musharraf several times this week apparently pleading with him not to take this step. The US government is being cautious issuing pro forma statements about reviewing its relationship with Pakistan and its funding policy while urging a return to constitutional government but of course has made no decisions while the media seems to be reading more into its statements thus far than there is cause for.
Experts are pointing out that much of Pakistan including its military and intelligence service as well as the population at large are to one degree or another sympathetic to the "Islamic militants" including the Taleban and al Qaeda. They also point out the relatively weak command and control systems Pakistan has over its nuclear arsenal. The possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of militants is the world's worst nightmare. At least one commentator says the US is paralyzed because it is tied down in Iraq. It currently has around 25,000 troops in Afghanistan, the most it's had there so far.
You can see Musharraf's dilemma. Both he and Bhutto have been the object of assassination attempts within the last few days while the militants meet openly and with impunity. The war against them both in Afghanistan and Pakistan is not going well. Pakistan's Supreme Court was about to rule on the legitimacy of Musharraf's recent election victory. Previous "democratic" governments including Bhutto's were weak and corrupt but experts predict that should she run for office she and her party would easily win.
If the situation continues to deteriorate, it could set off alarm bells in India too, also a nuclear power. The basic fact we in the civilized world must confront head on is that militant Islam whether Shia or Sunni is a political force with uncompromising world dominating ambitions. It cannot be defeated politically because its converted followers are zealots unyielding in their beliefs which have the strength of conviction of any true religion. They have no regard for the value of any human life including their own. There is only one way to defeat them and that is to eliminate them before they eliminate us. This is contrary to every other conflict of major significance including the cold war we have encountered since the dawn of the nuclear age. To misjudge it would be a fatal mistake. Does Musaharraf's action decrease or increase the likelihood that Islamists will eventually take control over the government? Would such a takeover of Pakistan provoke a pre-emptive nuclear strike against it? If yes, by whom? This almost puts Iran and the rest of the Middle East crisis on the back burner...for now.
Complain about this postI'd like the U.S. government to stay out of other countries' internal affairs more (in less than genocide cases) so to hear what Rice or someone else says about Pakistan is galling. What about the multi billion in military aid, mostly arms, that the U.S. gives? That's a subsidy to U.S. arms manufacturers, not foreign aid for people!
Complain about this postMusharraf has never instilled any confidence that he is serious about democracy, or that he has any real political will to eradicate militant Islamic extremist strongholds in Pakistan. This latest move demonstrates his will to ignore both and suggests a pre-occupation by him with his own position of power. I believe that Bhuto must realise there is no advantage in her keeping a foot in both camps, (Musharraf's camp and a democracy dream). She must tackle Musharraf head on as a political opponent and run for office. Her difficulty is that she must do so while avoiding arrest by Musharraf's military. I believe she needs to first garner global support before she can safely publicly stand against him.
I have to agree with Mark's comments that the civilized world must confront head on extremist militant Islamic elements which profess world domination ambitions. Everywhere you look around the globe, 90% of the conflict involves radical Islamists, in some way. Usually, targeting unstable or weak third world governments, with the intent of installing Islamic leaders to broaden their global political and economical power base.
They clearly are intent upon eliminating western influence and pwoer and are doing so by stealth, i.e. without any direct or open declaration of war against the West, all the while drawing the West into expensive conflicts and aid schemes. They cleverly utilise western media as propaganda vehicles, through which they are destabilising western values and western public opininion, while at the same time milking westernised economies with demands for aid and military presence.
Western leaders will need to put aside their fears of reprisal from voters for being seen to be 'politically incorrect', ignore the "warm and fluffy" exponents and simply bite the bullet to eliminate this extremeist culture targeting the West. I agree that unless Western democracies eliminate this threat it will eliminate us, slowly by degrees without lifting a sword directly against the West. That is the invisible Ace they continuously keep playing.
Complain about this postI don't believe the U.S. is in any position to "eliminate" any threats and I think the government needs to be sure about their enemies before they strike.
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