To the editor:
Current events in Pakistan presents the U.S. and the world a cluster of dilemmas that place enormous pressure and danger to the U.S. President and other world leaders. These dilemmas affect world peace, nuclear fears, and the roles that America hold in world affairs. Future US decisions, utterances, and actions related to these dilemmas will likely affect our future lives in many ways. One dilemma relates to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s declaration of a state of emergency which allows him to suspend his nation’s constitution, abrogate court rulings, round up political enemies, jail protesters, forcibly disallow criticism of his actions, and take over the nation’s press. Pakistan is a sovereign nation and as such, we could not legitimately meddle in their affairs. However, our global position has been steadfastly in favor of democracy and against forceful undemocratic rule which is what has transpired in Pakistan. We face accusations of being two faced if we now support Musharraf in his recent move even if we understand why it was made and quietly support it temporarily. Should we secretively attempt to pressure Musharraf, he risks the loss of control over his leadership and a resultant coup could result. We have a very negative reputation as it is in much of Asia; such meddling would surely result in more negative consequences than positive ones for us. Like it or not, we are a big force in keeping peace in the world.
U.S. relations with Pakistan form another dilemma. Even with our dissatisfaction with Pakistani leadership and its actions or inactions regarding help in finding Osama bin Laden, we desperately need Pakistan as an ally. It is nestled neighboring Afghanistan, India, and China. This region is the most populated in the world. All these nations have nuclear weapons. Pakistan is a nuclear nation with tested warheads in its arsenal. If Pakistan’s government falls or its leadership turns away from a US alliance, we face a possible nightmare scenario of their passing on nuclear capability to terrorists and/or allowing Al Qaeda free sanctuary in their territory.
Rogue elements in Pakistan are alleged to desire warring with neighboring India with which they have had more than sixty years enmity. India, too, has nuclear capability which opens up a specter of horrible dimensions. Pakistan’s former chief of nuclear facilities, Dr. A.Q. Khan, shared secret knowledge and facilitated sharing of limited nuclear weaponry with other countries violating the non proliferation treaties. Fears are that if irresponsible parties got control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, nefarious parties could benefit. This area is so fraught with dangers and our standing with many relevant personalities is so tenuous, we must have the best diplomatic, political, and military actions, statements, and intentions lest we blow it and cause global mayhem. I fear our current leaders may not be up to this grave job.
Another dilemma we face is the partisan politicization of these matters in the context of our 2008 national election cycle. Some candidates for President and Congress already have begun to make adversarial assertions related to these matters. The President and Congressional leaders have not yet made committal statements or taken dangerous non-reversible actions; but these are coming soon as events in Pakistan and its neighbors are inexorably advancing in ways that will force such statements and actions. Let us pray our leaders and leaders in other nations make wise decisions.
Presque Isle
