After the first attack on Mrs. Bhutto when she first landed in October, it was pretty much clear that the khichdi which Musharraf was trying to shove down the throats of the Pakistani people including the fundamentalists wasn’t very appealing to many of the concerned parties. Musharraf was walking a thin line trying to keep the US and the extremists happy at the same time. Envisioning a free, fair and peaceful elections is one thing and having such and event in actuality in Pakistan is a far fetched dream altogether.
A big question being raised is whether the assassination was an “open and shut” Al Qaeeda operation or is there foul play involved on the part of the military and other official forces in Pakistan? It’s a tough question to answer. On one side, it seems highly unlikely as Musharraf is politically savvy and understands the implications of such an event and its effect on an already unstable country. On the other hand, this gruesome carnage virtually guarantees that the general will continue his authoritarian rule over the second most populous Islamic nation in the world. So the question still remains whether the people who planned it really thought it through?
The United States has also got a big jolt out of all this. Their so called ally on the “War on terror” has just been pile-driven into the muck. This is wake up call for the US and I hope they see it soon enough. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are supposed to the US’s biggest allies on the War on Terror and all the concerned parties leave no stone unturned in making this clear to the whole world. They pat each others backs on minor accomplishments and make the world look very rosy to the rest of us. But the term “allies” has been used very loosely. The reality is only the authoritarian rulers of these countries say they support the US in their ongoing senseless shenanigans. The countries themselves consisting of religious extremists, common people, etc… ether don’t care or are against this support and hate the US. The rulers of these countries have constantly tried to play the double game of trying to keep both sides happy. As the assassination has shown, this shiny wall of deceit is starting to crumble. The US on the other hand, and I mean, the government, the media and the people(for no fault of theirs) have constantly lived in denial and have accepted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are “actually” helping the US. The fact is the Pakistan remains the number 1 hotbed for breeding and giving refuge to terrorists. Also Saudi Arabia seems to be the country of origin of most terrorists. What kind of allies are these countries where the ruler says one thing, and the people being ruled have a different perspective. I understand that the US also has to think about the strategic importance of these countries, but they will pay a very heavy price for it. I am sorry to say this but the “SURGE” is not working. Stop patting yourself on your backs for less soldiers getting killed in Iraq. The “evil doers” as you call them have no country, no affiliations, no fear, and no lack of funds. Their training doesn’t cost them anything and they are promised funds and angels in the afterlife. You cannot win this war. Stop busting your balls on Iran and Iraq and start focusing on Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. If you had done so 4 years ago after Afghanistan, the situation could have been much better. Stop this mindless country building exercise and start focusing on the real problem. WHY DO THESE PEOPLE HATE YOU SO MUCH?
I spoke to a Muslim friend of mine who usually has pretty spirited conversations with me on Middle Eastern politics. But after the assassination, he appeared very dejected and depressed about the whole situation, as if he had given up hope for the region.
The instability of this nuclear nation is also of great concern to India. If there is a civil war, there could be a huge insurge of people, militants, and the whole shebang. Musharraf has pulled this façade of being an able ally and ruling a stable nation for long, and the fireworks are just about to begin. The US with the mighty wisdom of Bush and his cabal, find themselves in the usual spot, totally unprepared!!!
I am worried that even after Bush leaves, Hilary or someone who is most likely to succeed will continue to provide fuel for this mindless war on terror, because they will be either war mongers, corporate puppets paying back what they took, or just plain stupid. (Unless Ron Paul sparks a surprise).
The assassination of Benazir forebodes the storm that has been lying dormant for a long time. The powers that be should recognize the signs, take a step back, and think about how we can isolate these people from the mainstream Islamic average joe, corner them and then eliminate them.
References and similar posts
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=105073&d=29&m=12&y=2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucrr/20071228/cm_ucrr/thedeathofbenazircomesthewhirlwind
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22986106-661,00.html
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