Musharraf on Iraq

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in reference to his recent book, said — from a CNN interview:

“I’ve stated whatever I had to … it [the war] has made the world a more dangerous place.”

I’m no fan of the Pakistanis and never really have been, but I can respect him for standing up to the US and stating what the rest of the world already knows:  The world is a more dangerous place without Saddam Hussein. 

The Pakistani and Saudi Arabian forms of government, amongst others, contradict US rhetoric about nation building and democracy.  It amuses me that the US speaks so highly about bringing democracy to Iraq, but yet maintains relationships with such regimes.  It also obvious to the world as to the reasons why:  The gov’t of the US can turn a blind eye when its need are being satisfied.

But I disagree with Musharraf on several fronts:

“Pakistan is a very, very stable country. We have a strong government. We have a strong military. We have a strong intelligence system….”

A stable country?  Not really.  All one needs to do is compare the flow of technology investment between India and Pakistan.  That’s the real measure of stability and Pakistan doesn’t come close.  And they certainly don’t have control of some of the outer lying areas that remain under tribal warlord governance.

A strong military?  He should know since he overthrew the previous government in a military coup. And there have been more actual attempts on his life in recent years than one might expect for a President of a “stable country.” 

A strong intelligence system?  Not so.  They weren’t strong enough to prevent Pakistan’s nuclear weapons founder to proliferate technology for personal profit to the countries that we should really be worried about:  Iran and North Korea.  And then he was pardoned by Musharraf himself after admitting to his crimes on national television.  “House arrest” for a AQ Khan, regarded internally as a national hero, is a travesty of international justice.  Musharraf is quick to criticize Hamid Karzai for atttempting to balance opinion with execution in Afghanistan, but he fails to do it himself in Pakistan.

Putting troops in Pakistan proactively is the only way that we will find bin Laden in my opinion.  It’s apparent that Pakistan, whether willfully or otherwise, continues to harbor individuals important to the current “war on terror” as it relates not just to Americans, but to Indians as well.