December 30, 2007

Pakistan Between Rock And Hard Place

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

The incipient war in the Middle East -- against American-style democracy -- edged closer to Armageddon with the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Mrs. Benazir Bhutto.

She served twice as Prime Minister between 1988 and 1996 -- before adopting self-imposed exile. Her return home was a great risk of which she was aware.

Her political murder may be Osama bin Laden’s greatest error of judgment – surpassing that of the September 11, 2001, bombing of New York City’s World Trade Towers.

Six years ago, the United States of America was half a world and two oceans away. Bin Laden was privately admired and supported by many in the Islamic Middle East for his impunity in kicking “Great Satan’s” shins.

He found safe haven in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan before being driven by American military forces into the “no man’s land” of Pakistan’s rugged – Taliban-controlled --northern border with Afghanistan.

There, bin Laden and his death-squad hunker in caves -- e-mailing commands for his crazy followers to blow up themselves in the name of Allah.

Murky Politics

Bin Laden may have compounded his dire strait by meddling in Pakistan’s murky politics.

At this writing, no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the political murder.

However, Pakistan Interior Minister, Hamid Nawaz, says his government has an “intelligence intercept” in which a well-known terrorist leader – Baitullah Mehsud – “congratulated” his people for carrying out the assassination.

In the message, Mehsud blessed three men for the murder that killed Mrs. Bhutto and 21 bystanders. More than 60 people were injured.

When she returned to Pakistan October 18, her “home coming” entourage was targeted by a suicide attacker. She escaped injury, but 140 well-wishers were killed.

Wise Words

One is reminded of an article Mrs. Bhutto, in exile at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, wrote for the Wall Street Journal September 25, 2001. This was just three weeks after the World Trade Center debacle.

Bin Laden Ruins Islam

“I feel America’s pain. Four of the happiest years of my life were spent at Harvard, where I learned of America’s freedom, tolerance, pluralism, openness and equal opportunity for all citizens,” she wrote.

“At this time of crisis, The American people must remember that those who use violence and terror in the name of Islam are hypocrites.

“Their goal is to establish theocracies of ignorance that they can control and manipulate for their own political ends. They oppose Western values. They also oppose Islamic principles.

“Samuel Huntington of Harvard wrote of an inevitable clash of civilization between the West and the Islamic world. The clash is not inevitable. The precepts of Islam are consistent with those of the Judeo-Christian world which preceded it.”

Musharraf’s New Role

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf formerly was Chief of Staff for the Army. He led a military coup in 1999 to suspend the Constitution and declare himself both President of the nation and Supreme Army Commander.

Since then, he sternly opposed terrorists who had his country in constant uproar.

Consequently, he has been actively supported by western countries -- principally the United States which has pumped nearly $10 billion in aid since the Trade Centers bombing.

The U.S. Congress imposed new restrictions on aid to Pakistan until the latter “makes concerted efforts” to prevent terrorists from operating inside its border.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also must guarantee that Pakistan is implementing democratic reforms -- including the release of political prisoners and restoring an independent judiciary. President Bush signed it into law on Wednesday.

As Things Now Stand

The Pakistan government has announced that its government will go ahead with the planned, parliamentary elections on January 8.

Musharraf had announced just days before Mrs. Bhutto’s death that he would “take off” his military uniform and turn over the Pakistani Army to Gen. Ashfaq Kiani.

Mohammed Mian Soomro

“Right now, the elections stand where they were,” says newly designated Prime Minister Mohammed Mian Soomro.

Mrs. Bhutto’s distraught supporters don’t know whether to accept the planned Election Day or ask for a postponement to re-group.

Stand by.

The Mid-east will get more turbulent before it gets peaceful.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist