Strange Bedfellows

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/03/bhutto.pakistan/index.html

Just a week ago she was putting together a plan to share power with Musharrif. He had barred all other opposition from entering the country with trumped up charges, and they were both set to play their parts in this "Pakistan has democracy" farce. But the people of Pakistan were not havin it.

Massive demonstrations and unrest mostly due to his heavy handed tactics with the courts and the politics of the upcoming election. This election in which he promised four years ago to return Pakistan to Democracy, after he broke a similar promise from four years before. This was election everyone had been waiting for. This was the 'last time' he would pull this trick out to stay in power. The extraordinary disappointment of the majority of the people of Pakistan cannot be underestimated.

Combined with the rise of Islamic militants, an enemy since he turned against his old friend Afghanistan and backed the US invasion after 911. He chose his side, and Al Quaeda has had a bounty on his head, so far he
has survived dozens of attempts and near attempts on his life.

The domestic unrest combined with US pressure to 'do something' about the autonomous regions he created on the border with Afghanistan, trading local autonomy for the 'pledge' that they would not 'actively' support the Taliban and Al Quaeda.

But of course it has long been understood that while Musharrif made up his mind to 'side' with the US when the Secretary of State called to let him know that he was either with us or against us, in the early days after 911, many in Pakistan never ended their relationship with the Taliban. This includes many of the top military, Intelligence services under Musharrif as well as the private and corporate sector.

So Musharrif has proceeded to alternately help the US and stand back, exert more control over society and reform always fits and starts, always between a rock and a very hard place indeed. This almost schizophrenic leadership has only made the situation much worse.

The US wants their strongman to stay, not that convincing Musharrif to remain in power is the hard part, but the policy is tearing the country apart. While allowing a new more democratic government to emerge may not be Bush friendly, it most certainly would help to bring stability to a country with a nuclear arsenal, and a long range missile delivery system. The vast majority of Pakistanis are not Islamic militants. They are well educated and want a more western lifestyle. There are very strong religious undercurrents, orthodox madrases provide schooling for the poor, raging clerics and tribal loyalties complicate the social landscape. But these are mitigated wholly by a strong democratic process. A policy of repression only makes the extremists stronger.

But no one can accuse the Bush administration of working to make the world a safer place. Why start now.


MTMIND