Musharraf has quit as President- typically in a commando style: resilient, sans apologies - defending his actions - highlighting his achievements - focusing on rivals' shortcomings and weaknesses - hoping that Pakistan will come out shining but in the same breathe alluding to ominous signs of impending external and internal threats.
His parting diatribes seem to be a borderline case of delusional-cum-polemical chicaneries - an understandable mental manifestation of someone who have been pushed to move his butt off the high altar where he has been sitting so long. If I had a buddy like Bush on my side always, I would probably be the same - may be even worse. Interestingly both have been delusional to the extreme.
While running for the presidentship, Bush couldn't name the new leader of Pakistan, i.e. Gen. Musharraf. But after Sept. 11, things changed overnight - whether for the good or for the worse only history will tell.
Musharraf became the most crucial but ultimately the most frustrating ally of the U.S and Bush's personally. In the process, however Musharraf became a "personal friend" of George Bush - the latter often called him his 'buddy'.
Ironically, U.S. has "no permanent friends nor permanent enemies". So is it about Musharraf and USA. The region has become so murky that even the strongest Chlorox can't clean it up. Stains will remain for ever. Welcome to the club, Commando! He once said, he never blinked - because he had "cat's 9 lives".
Interestingly though, he is not yet fully depreciated politically (my personal opinion), even age wise and "nuisance value" wise. He has of course proved that he is neither a Ayub Khan nor a Yahya, nor a Bhutto! And, he has already proved he is not a Zia either!
He ended up getting the farewell guard of honor, has a President's security details, is lodged in Army Chief's house, shall remain in the country, can speak to the media, etc. and says will issue a White Paper on the dire strait of the economy.
As I watched his unapologetic monologue on the TV, my mind tried to visualize him on the day after. And I saw him out there, kicking and throwing dust all around.
Possibly a comeback kid one day? In some form or the other?
We got to wait to see if that will happen for at least a year or so, since there appears to be a two-year restriction on government officials from entering politics. Meanwhile he will maintain sophisticated connect with the media and the people using 'surprise' as a Commando's greatest weapon!
Muttahida, PML(Q), PML(F), etc...any or all may want him in one way or another. He has the potential to unite or divide the MQMs, provide alternate leadership to the Muhajirs in Karachi, has the knack to attempt to create a Punjab-Karachi constituency for himself - provided the establishment, including Uncle Sam, supports him and wants that to happen. Full of surprises Pakistan politics is.
Since the war on terror will go on....Musharraf, a known ally, offers alternate leadership. The U.S. has spent a lot on him. He is an "asset" by all definitions, some say. Meanwhile take a break Commando. Go golfing!
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The man needs to be kicked out of the army house and thrown into Jail, and be tried for 3 counts of treason against the State of Pakistan. He has no shame and an even weaker memory. He is the main culprit in allowing Pakistani-Taliban to flourish.
ReplyDeletePakistan’s largest daily newspaper, The Dawn reported today General Musharraf gets bail in Bugti’s murder case. He could freely move in Pakistan and travel abroad, his legal attorneys contended.
ReplyDeletePeople hailed court’s decision and celebrated by distributing sweets in Islamabad, the respected daily newspaper: Arab News of Saudi Arabia reported today.
Musharraf was bailed earlier in Benazir’s murder case, and the case of high treason was withdrawn; he seems to be getting rid of these fake cases that were initiated against him as part of political vendetta and prevent him from the polls - a blow on the façade of the ECP.
Previous political government as well as present should give him due protocol. They are the beneficiaries of NRO, which Musharraf did to facilitate them into the political arena again but his good gesture was misconstrued and not reciprocated by these politicians in same spirit.
General Musharraf didn’t topple previously elected government as some inadvertently envisage. While he was aboard the plane way back home from an official trip abroad, Pak Army took upright decision to preserve its institutional integrity and save it from being polarized. Political leadership had demanded from Musharraf that ISI punishes their opponents and it bore contention with the COAS as the latter described in his book: “In the Line of Fire.”
Musharraf didn’t subvert the constitution, let the judiciary continue and accorded complete freedom to media, which now became an institution to support democracy in the country. He made economic turnaround in his tenure by achieving highest GDP and developed civil infrastructure throughout the country by allocating funds for roads and bridges, which is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. And, he has no involvement in embezzlement that’s an important trait that a Pakistani leader must have.
We must evaluate with facts: some time help comes from the God Almighty without being envisioned and that happened when he took over. Had it been our political leadership in power at the time prior to 9/11 episode, we would have given away our nuclear assets and some parts of the country, most probably the remaining of Kashmir, which we call Azad Kashmir. We must recognize the fact that it was our Military Establishment that served as savior of the last resort under valiant leadership of Gen. Musharraf while enemy’s forces were eye ball to eye ball at the borders and the Israeli’s air command was reported rehearsing at Pentagon on how to dismantle nuclear arsenals of Pakistan. He maintained friendship with the big power at the same time didn’t deliver enough to their satisfaction eventually keeping Pakistani nuclear assets and territory in tact during Afghan War and defeated Indian plans completely. While as a General, he camouflaged half of the Indian Army in the Velley of Kargil while our political leadership failed to go on table talks and the same General, the capacity of country’s President, went for out of box solution with Indian side on Kashmir issue, which couldn’t be appreciated at the Whitehouse, as mentioned in the famous book: “Balkanisation and Political Economy of Pakistan”, by Yousuf Nazar.
Pakistan still has vacuum of able and honest leadership and as Musharraf gets of the mess of courts, he is likely to play key role in politics of the country. He is experienced and is an expert on war on terror. Pakistan needs a clean man to streamline its economy and a strategist to deal with internal terrorism and external threats.