There are 170 million Pakistanis now living under martial law. They and entire Muslim world will watch over the course of the next days and weeks to see if America’s deeds with respect to our democratic ideals match our rhetoric. The risks couldn’t be higher – substantial minorities of the military and intelligence services of Pakistan are reportedly permeated with radical Islamist sentiment, and the country has as many as 95 nuclear weapons – the combination is a nightmare scenario. The temptation to make diplomatic clucking noises and then look away must be extraordinary.
It must be resisted.
The only leverage we have with Pakistan comes from the various aid programs we provide them: $10 billion since 2001 and $785 million programmed for 2008 alone. We must make it clear to the Pakistani government – privately if necessary for face saving reasons – that those monies are contingent upon certain recognized standards. That one does not fight terrorism or extremists by beating and arresting lawyers and civil rights advocates. That one cannot legitimately rule by the illegitimate overthrow of political enemies, including the Supreme Court. That in a real country, worthy of respect as such, the military uses its monopoly on organized violence in the service of the people, rather than to dominate them.
We can no longer coddle the skull crackers and cynics, lest those diminishing few who still dare to hope that we mean what we say when we speak of liberty and justice, and the majority of their weary, fence sitting compatriots become finally, terminally disenchanted and reach the conclusion that it was really only about the killing.
If that happens, “the long war” will never end. And those nukes, inevitably, will find their way here.
We must stand for something.
dealing with this situation is like walking on the edge of a knife, the sharp one…Musharaff is in a very precaurious situation. Trying to do the “right things” which we’re asking from him, while placating or attempting to, those within his populace and government (ISID) who don’t necessarily agree with the direction we are pushing. Meanwhile, dealing with a poor, illiterage populace who is in places starving and not working, leaving only the Madrassas to fill in some of the gaps the government is not filling.
Don’t think the 10bil+ makes that much of a diferrence to Musharaff or whomever his successor may be. They have a pretty tight relationship with China, both in weapons, aircraft and economics (GWADAR). I think China would not blink at an expense of 2-3 bill per year to replace us as the “benefactors”, on both sides of India too. Pakistan is not above dealing with those we find unsavory. See their nuclear program development (DPRK) and Dr. Khan Exports (Libya plus others I can’t mention here)
We’ve played with Pakistan for a long time, but neglected the relationship when it wasn’t on our priority list. Hope the diplomats have some DIPLOMACY in action that will ameliorate this situation. Must thread carefully, or the loss can be significant. As you so eloquently state, we must also stick to our democracy “mantra” if we want to show the rest of the world, especially the muslim world that we mean what we say and it applies equally to foes and friends.
Claudio
PS Times like these I miss being “out of the loop” then I see my little girl and the feeling fades
Interesting that this situation is somewhat similar to that involving our interactions with the Shah not so many years ago. The biggest difference is that when the revolutionaries (whatever their origin) overthrow the current regime, they’ll have possession of nukes (as pointed out by the Captain)….draw your own conclusions…
Sir, This is an extremely impotant time and concept, well written. But, I have a question, to whom is this written? Might I suggest an answer or these are my views. It appears you are writing an open letter to the American People. If it is not accepted by absolutely all of the people, it will be accepted by none of the people. We must look at this from all levels and branches of government, elected or appointed, military/veteran or civilian. We must all work together. We can rant and rave all we want, but we will be judged by an “Old Unforgiving Sea Hag”, her name is “History”.
This situation reminds me of the Shah of Iran as well. I recently read a troubling poll (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C11%5C01%5Cstory_1-11-2007_pg7_4)
“These attitudes may also reflect Pakistani sympathy for at least some Islamist goals. A substantial 60 percent majority believes that “Sharia should play a larger role in Pakistan law” than it does now. Only 26 percent say it should play the same role (15 percent) or a smaller role (11 percent) and 15 percent do not answer.”
If a country votes itself into tyranny can it still be considered a Democracy? German and Iranian history say no. This is a lose lose situation….
but I don’t think ’standing up for Democracy’ will serve us any brownie points in this case. We don’t want radical Islamists to take over so why pretend that we do. I’d rather see us say what we mean for a change instead of twist our hands and whine unconvincingly about principles that, if applied to a crowd of radicals, would be terrifying. The Taliban wasn’t a democracy in Afghanistan, but it was widely supported. At first.
I submit that our nation look a tad different today if the Bill of Rights began…..’We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all people who uphold the principles of Sharia law are equal….’
Sorry Liz but the Bill of Rights does not begin with “We hold these truths to be self evident…” That is the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration, while important in our history, does not provide a basis for our national government, even if Abraham Lincoln rewrote history at Gettysburg. In fact, the Declaration of Independence was an overt act of treason. It was only right because we won the war (victors always get to write the histor).
I stand corrected, Once a Marine…on quite a whopper of a mistake at that! Eek!
Otherwise, I’m not sure of the point? Do you not think it would be a different country today if our nation wasn’t founded on the concept of freedom, but rather a “democracy” without such guarantees? Turkey is the most western democracy in the middle east, and it has taken 4 military coups in the past 50-odd years to keep it that way.
This situation also reminds me of the mess in Palestine. We allowed them to vote in a bunch of radicals intent on the destruction of Israel… and apparently intent on their own destruction as well, as they’ve managed to run an already crappy economy even further into the ground. This has resulted in the starvation of many “innocent” Palestinians, as well as the death of both Israelis and Palestinians.
If a group of people want to elect a bunch of radicals that will ultimately cause their downfall, is it our responsibility to stop them? Or do we just give them enough rope to hang themselves?
Jim C
Appreciate the sentiments, but here there are no right answers, only the least wrong. “Lawyers and civil rights advocates” are entirely different beasts in that part of the world. Don’t let your noble sentiments lead you into pulling a Jimmy Carter on Pakistan.