A Moment of Peril in Pakistan
By Michael Medved
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has declared an emergency and imposed martial law. This sudden lurch back towards full authoritarianism breaches the agreement Musharraf brokered with political opponents and has sent the country into a deep crisis. The U.S., aware of the repressive actions but also worried about radical Islamists who have many times tried to assassinate Musharraf, has adopted a very restrained reaction.
The Bush Administration is right to both mute its criticism while pushing Musharraf towards elections as he promised. The example of Iran in 1978 looms large. The Carter Administration basically abandoned the Shah and hoped it would turn out well, and of course a radical Islamist regime replaced the Shah, a regime that today seeks nukes.
Pakistan already has nukes--at least a couple of dozen and perhaps more than 80. This is a moment of incredible peril to the U.S. and the world. The Bush administration cannot lose Pakistan.
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has declared an emergency and imposed martial law. This sudden lurch back towards full authoritarianism breaches the agreement Musharraf brokered with political opponents and has sent the country into a deep crisis. The U.S., aware of the repressive actions but also worried about radical Islamists who have many times tried to assassinate Musharraf, has adopted a very restrained reaction.
The Bush Administration is right to both mute its criticism while pushing Musharraf towards elections as he promised. The example of Iran in 1978 looms large. The Carter Administration basically abandoned the Shah and hoped it would turn out well, and of course a radical Islamist regime replaced the Shah, a regime that today seeks nukes.
Pakistan already has nukes--at least a couple of dozen and perhaps more than 80. This is a moment of incredible peril to the U.S. and the world. The Bush administration cannot lose Pakistan.
posted by HeavyHanded at
9:29 AM
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