Pakistan teetering?

Depending on how justified was President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency this past week, Pakistan may be teetering between semi-democratic ally and theocratic enemy.

Pakistan remains home to many Muslims sympathetic to or outright part of the radical Islam that sponsors the vast majority of world terrorism. Fortunately, a greater number of moderate Muslims also call Pakistan home. If the nation is policing its extremist elements effectively then it should trend toward moderation as a democratic and representative government.

The Bush administration is banking on Musharraf's being wrong about the threat to Pakistan's stability. Perhaps Musharraf was counting on the U.S. to support his grasp for greater power through the emergency declaration--if so his gamble failed. Pressure from the U.S. has apparently moved Musharraf to reverse himself.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan said it would hold a national election by mid-January and President Pervez Musharraf pledged to quit the military after criticism from the United States for imposing emergency rule.

Musharraf has detained hundreds of lawyers and opposition politicians since taking emergency powers on Saturday, a move seen as designed to pre-empt a Supreme Court ruling on his re-election as president last month.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who values Musharraf as an ally in his battle against al Qaeda and the Taliban, urged Pakistan's president to lift the state of emergency, hold elections and quit his military post.

(The News)

I think it was Time magazine that just within the past week or so called Pakistan a greater threat than Iran with its cover story.

The big difference between the two that gives the lie to that claim--at least for now--is that the governments in power have different aims. Iran is ruled by Islamic extremists and Pakistan is not. Only if Pakistan comes under the control of a comparably extreme group does it exceed the threat posed by Iran.

The political dance with Pakistan is a dangerous one, to be sure. The U.S. cannot afford for Musharraf to go the way of the Shah unless the new leadership remains a responsible neighbor.

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