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March 7, 2006
Has A Chill Crept Over US-Pakistani Relations?
Topics: War on Terror
The "not always reliable" DEBKAfile says that there has, and that the relationship has entered choppy waters. Apparently the two leaders were at odds on the two main themes of their talks: the spillover of Islamic terrorism across Pakistani borders and nuclear issues. The Bush administration is reviewing Musharraf's centrality in the global war on terror, while nuclear proliferation is more of a sore point than ever.
Questions concerning Musharraf's credibility in fighting Islamic terrorism have surrounded him for some time, and the Bush administration might do well to reconsider Musharraf's "centrality" in the War on Terror.
General Pervez Musharraf is praised by Secretary of State General Colin Powell and his State Department for his "courage" and "co-operation" in fighting the Islamic Fundamentalist terrorists trained, armed, funded and operating from Pakistan. Recently, western "experts" have come out with increasingly desperate "analyses" trying to show using Musharraf's actions that he is indeed sincere in supporting the War Against Terrorism.
People who have been following General Musharraf's career with more interest, appear to disagree strongly with the above characterization.They seem him as a "pro-western front" set up by the so-called "fundamentalists" of Pakistan - the very same people who set up and comprised the Al Queda and the rest of Pakistan's primary export - Global Terrorism. Even Musharraf's shrillest promoters have to admit that prior to September 12, 2001, General Musharraf was more aligned with the Al Queda than the US. September 12 is when U.S. official Richard Armitage is reported to have told Musharraf to choose between the 21st century or being bombed back to the Stone Age. Musharraf then went on national TV looking rather pale, and told the people of Pakistan that he had to choose the "lesser evil" - United States forces as a "Frontline Ally" rather than United States bombs and cruise missiles, as target.Regardless of Musharraf's true allegiance in The War On Terror, Pakistan is still one of three nations that are important keys to keeping atomic weapons out of the hands of terrorists (Iran and North Korea being the other two). It has an unstable government, armed fundamentalist Islamic groups and material to build at least 30 nuclear weapons, and nuclear terrorism is as close as Osama bin Laden being able to get his hands on the enough of the right materials to build a bomb.
Iran is definately a problem, but so is Pakistan.
Posted by Richard at March 7, 2006 10:35 AM
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- Has A Chill Crept Over US-Pakistani Relations? - Mar 07, 2006
