Emergency in Pakistan - Catch 22 for America

To Oppose-

The warm and cozy relationship President Pervez Musharraf enjoys with President Bush and his Administration is well-known to all by now. To please his friends in Washington the general is playing perhaps a small yet crucial role in the ongoing global fight against terrorism. He is atleast doing well in making the Americans believe that his army is doing a heck of a job in keeping the Al Qaeda under check and regions around the Afghan border under control. If the previous attempts to kill the general are believed to be genuine and US support wanes it could be the perfect setting for extremists in hiding to come out in the open, overthrow Musharraf, take control of the nuclear arsenal and create havoc. International borders would then have no meaning and the anarchy will spread to Afghanistan like fire; re-invigorate the taliban; empower the Al Qaeda and thereby mean disaster in this war against terrorism.

To Support-

But, the US can't simply remain a silent spectator and wave a green flag for anything and everything Musharraf does. America, the biggest advocate of democracy can't let it's most critical ally remain in a state of emergency and under a military dictator forever. That would be the biggest joke and the greatest example of hypocrisy. America must act and keep pushing for a return to democracy ASAP.

As one can see it is not possible for the US to strongly take sides at this point and is in a confused state. All it can do is keep making statements to the media and remain 'concerned.'

However, it will be interesting to note how much grace period America gives the general before he makes some sort of return to democracy and restores normalcy either by giving up his uniform or conducting elections. What is the threshold they have set for Pakistan before they resort to drastic measures like cutting military aid? Also, if the situation in Pakistan does not improve for sometime especially beyond January, it will then cast a shadow on the presidential polls for the stand of each candidate on this issue will be equal to a key foreign policy statement of a (future) president.