Pakistan Gets Worse

By Charlie

If that's possible...

Ex-Pakistan Leader Returns to Hero's Welcome

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan Sunday evening, marking a turning point in the political power struggle gripping this nation.

Unlike on Sept. 10, when Sharif made his first attempt to enter the country, this time there were no police waiting to detain and deport him. Instead, Sharif received a hero's welcome. Thousands of his supporters crowded into the airport in Lahore to greet him upon his arrival. Some held signs and chanted, "Go Musharraf Go!"

Things keep looking worse for Musharraf, despite his success in pulling off the state of emergency, stacking the courts with “his” guys, and quelling domestic political opponents. Here’s the rub: Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, despite being popular now, really did not vault Pakistan out of the dark ages while they were in charge. Bhutto extended diplomatic recognition to the Taliban, and let the ISI funnel them arms.

Bhutto, Sharif, and Musharraf all seem to be sub-standard (even for Pakistan) politicians, and all are aware that blood is in the water. What is going on in Pakistan now is simply a very dangerous power grab by all three of these politicians – Musharraf tries to get a better grip on the country, while Bhutto and Sharif try to take it back. This wouldn’t be a big deal if this were some country in central Africa, or South America- but Pakistan is central to the US efforts in the war on terror. Pakistan is currently at a tipping point between anarchy, possible Islamic terrorist rule, and continued authoritarian grip. All three of these foster massive internal instability, and Pakistan’s informal “cease fire” with the Taliban operating in the northern provinces has not helped the situation much.

November 25, 2007 03:21 PM The Long War