Maverick's World

Is it time for General Musharraf to go?

I am reading a spate of articles in the press all written by the faux journalists that form the bizarre communication network between the Pakistani Government and the US Government. All these so-called journalists have some sort of press ID card, but also seem to extensively freelance as consultants and advisors to a number of corporate groups in the West. These people seem to have excellent ties with both governments and their travel between the countries is seldom hampered.

First Ahmed Rashid, friend of... never mind.. writes about the "rocky relationship" . Then Najam Sethi responds to the "rocky relationship" which suggest ways in which Gen. Musharraf might be relieved of his resposibilities. Then ofcourse Najam Sethi also responded to the Fund for Peace article on the "Failed State of Pakistan" with the following gem...

Pakistan has reached the point of a necessary strategic paradigm shift in its history. A conflictual model no longer suits its territorial dispensation, given its outlets to the adjacent regions. It no longer needs “strategic depth” to confront anyone; instead, it needs to become alive to the prospects of transit trade across its “narrow” territory. But before that it must exercise control over the territory it owns. Far from ending up as a failed state, it may be the only state in the region with a bright future if — and this is the big IF — the army and political parties can effect functional and stable rules of the game.

We have Air Marshal Ayaz Ahmed Khan, who tells us that

National unity is becoming a mirage because of unbridgeable political and ideological fissures. The rulers and the opposition are at daggers drawn and unable to agree even on vital national issues. Pakistan undoubtedly is faced with leadership problems.

Then we have Simon Tisdall in the Guardian who says

Inside Peshawar's cloistered mosques, high in the rugged passes of the North-West Frontier, and deep in the upholstered opposition salons of Lahore, there is growing consensus it is time for Pervez Musharraf to go.

And to top it all off, we have Hugh Barnes with "Only spies can stop the chaos", a very surprising and bizarre account of his visit to the ISI compound in Rawalpindi and also of the effect that the Pakistan Army's looting of earthquake relief has played in the alienation of Pervez Musharraf.

Mind you, I am not counting what Ayman Al-Zawahiri and other notables say, because we all know that they can be made to say whatever Musharraf asks them say.

posted by maverick @ 8:26 AM