There’s the possibility of elections in Pakiston in October 2007. Whether Musharraf allows for a free and fair election is in doubt. Musharraf has been in trouble as of late and news media questions, “What will happen to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should Musharraf fall?” The assumption is that his successor would be a radical fundamentalist intent on our destruction. Not likely. In fact, the outcome might be just the opposite.
Pakistan’s two most popular parties are the PPP and the Muslim League – both are described as relatively centrist with the PPP on the center left and the Muslim League on the center-right. Would not a centrist elected democracy in the region be more ideal than a military ruler? (“President Musharraf came to power in a bloodless coup, in October 1999). Its just this kind dictator – one who appears attached to American strings while doing everything possible to protect his personal power– that has for too many years, ruled in the Middle east and elsewhere, and led to angry and violence opposition from a disenfranchised people.
Putting pressure on Musharraf is the right thing to do. Talks of unilateral attacks with or without permission from the government, (despite the fact that it’s current US policy,) was not smooth. Instead, Obama should speak out about free and fair elections in Pakistan. Make a grand showing (without tanks, bombers and ground troops) that the US supports democracy around the world for real.
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