Spring Break
Musharraf Deserves More Dire Denouncement
Our Opinion
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Commentary
On Nov. 3, Gen. Perez Musharraf, President and Army Chief of Staff of Pakistan, declared a state of national emergency. This declaration of martial law suspended the Constitution, disbanded the Supreme Court, silenced the independent media and led to the house-arrest or jailing of over 2,500 activists and lawyers, including the leader of Pakistan's chief opposition party. In a gallant display of democratic principles, the White House has courageously declared that "We remain concerned," and that "We are hopeful that moderate elements would join together," to bring Pakistan towards democracy. Meanwhile, the American military has said that aid to an "indispensable" partner in the War on Terror will continue undeterred.
An ostensibly freedom-loving nation has no place supporting a blossoming autocrat. Expressing concern and sending Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte to give Musharraf a talking-to are not acceptable responses to a blatantly dictatorial power-grab.
Musharraf was re-elected as Pakistan's president on Oct. 6 amid intense controversy about whether he could constitutionally be both president and head of the army. Musharraf has said that the emergency decree was "to ensure elections go in an undisturbed manner," but there is little reason to doubt that the general was rather more concerned that his re-election would be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Musharraf is showing all the signs of an increasingly unpopular and unbalanced autocrat. In an interview with The New York Times, Musharraf accused opposition leader Benzair Bhutto of "producing negative vibes, negative optics," and has said that the Western media underestimates the support he has because they talk to too many liberals. "You go and meet human rights activists," Musharraf said. "Ninety percent of them may have never cast their votes. They sleep on the day of elections."
The American military may consider Musharraf "indispensable," but he has remarkably little to show for himself given the $10 billion funneled into his pockets since Sept. 11. A recent suicide bombing which targeted Bhutto left a record 134 dead and 450 wounded. The Los Angeles Times has stated that the majority of military aid given to Pakistan has been used to purchase "heavy arms, aircraft and equipment that U.S. officials say are far more suited for conventional warfare with India" than for counter-insurgency activities. Pakistan's anti-terrorist forces have even proved insufficient to the simple task of shutting down the FM radio broadcasts of a local pro-Taliban religious leader.
Musharraf is the faux-dictator of an unstable nation wracked by terrorism and political unrest who has been using American money to prepare for war against India, a true democracy. This is the man that America considers "indispensable"and a "moderate element." If the United States wanted to retain a shred of credibility and sanity, it would move to sanction General Musharraf far more severely than it has.
An ostensibly freedom-loving nation has no place supporting a blossoming autocrat. Expressing concern and sending Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte to give Musharraf a talking-to are not acceptable responses to a blatantly dictatorial power-grab.
Musharraf was re-elected as Pakistan's president on Oct. 6 amid intense controversy about whether he could constitutionally be both president and head of the army. Musharraf has said that the emergency decree was "to ensure elections go in an undisturbed manner," but there is little reason to doubt that the general was rather more concerned that his re-election would be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Musharraf is showing all the signs of an increasingly unpopular and unbalanced autocrat. In an interview with The New York Times, Musharraf accused opposition leader Benzair Bhutto of "producing negative vibes, negative optics," and has said that the Western media underestimates the support he has because they talk to too many liberals. "You go and meet human rights activists," Musharraf said. "Ninety percent of them may have never cast their votes. They sleep on the day of elections."
The American military may consider Musharraf "indispensable," but he has remarkably little to show for himself given the $10 billion funneled into his pockets since Sept. 11. A recent suicide bombing which targeted Bhutto left a record 134 dead and 450 wounded. The Los Angeles Times has stated that the majority of military aid given to Pakistan has been used to purchase "heavy arms, aircraft and equipment that U.S. officials say are far more suited for conventional warfare with India" than for counter-insurgency activities. Pakistan's anti-terrorist forces have even proved insufficient to the simple task of shutting down the FM radio broadcasts of a local pro-Taliban religious leader.
Musharraf is the faux-dictator of an unstable nation wracked by terrorism and political unrest who has been using American money to prepare for war against India, a true democracy. This is the man that America considers "indispensable"and a "moderate element." If the United States wanted to retain a shred of credibility and sanity, it would move to sanction General Musharraf far more severely than it has.
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