Posted on 12/27/2007 9:46:15 PM PST by Clive
OTTAWA - The shockwaves of Benazir Bhutto's assassination rippled into Canada as the government, the military, and the Pakistani community cast a wary eye toward tumultuous south Asia.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Pakistan to proceed with its scheduled election in two weeks - this despite the country's main opposition party announcing a boycott after Bhutto's murder.
"This cannot be allowed to permit any delay in the return of Pakistan to full democracy," Harper said in Calgary.
"(Democracy is) something the people of Pakistan have been waiting for, for far too long."
Bhutto, the leading lady of Asian politics, was shot in the neck and chest while leaving a rally as she campaigned for her third stint as Pakistan's prime minister. Her attacker then blew himself up, also killing at least 20 others.
Images of burning tires, smashed glass, grown men crying, and angry mobs forming in the streets of Pakistan offered an instant illustration of the turmoil in which the nuclear-armed country now finds itself.
With so much of Canada's interests tied up in next-door neighbour Afghanistan, politicians and military experts grappled with the potential implications of Bhutto's killing.
Canadian policy-makers weighed the possible impact on diplomats, aid workers, and 2,500 soldiers helping to rebuild Afghanistan.
The fears were far more personal for Canada's Pakistani community, which was gripped with concern for relatives and friends back home.
News of Bhutto's killing reached the prime minister as he was wrapping up holidays with his family in Calgary, and it caused him to briefly delay his return to Ottawa.
He implored Pakistani authorities to seek out and prosecute the organizers of what he called an abhorrent act of terror. And he insisted that elections proceed as planned on Jan. 8.
Those elections are now soaked in uncertainty following Bhutto's killing, with a main opposition leader boycotting them and Pervez Musharraf grappling with whether to suspend them.
Harper said they must go on despite the assassination.
The western world's interest in Pakistan has grown exponentially in the past few years, largely because it is a volatile nuclear power at the forefront of the war against terrorism.
And Canada is right in the thick of it.
The country has lost 73 soldiers in Afghanistan and sustained hundreds more injuries fighting an enemy whose central command is actually across the border.
Canada's multibillion-dollar reconstruction effort has also been slowed by the spate of suicide bombings, shootings, and roadside explosions in southern Afghanistan.
Military analysts and the Afghan government note that pro-Taliban fighters often are recruited, armed, and given refuge in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan.
One expert on the region laid out what he calls the nightmare scenario. It involves a potentially lethal combination: nuclear weapons, radical Islam, and the Pakistani military.
Bhutto's assassination could embolden Islamist military leaders in Pakistan enough to launch a coup against president Pervez Musharraf, said Louis Delvoie, Canada's former high commissioner to Pakistan.
"You would have not only no longer any effective action against the tribal areas, you would have in fact probably support for the Taliban," said Delvoie, now a senior fellow at Queen's University.
"And you would have an Islamist military government with nuclear weapons."
"That is the nightmare scenario."
While in Pakistan, Delvoie met frequently with Bhutto in her role as opposition leader and then as prime minister. He said her killing has taken an already complicated situation and made it more dangerous.
Even if there isn't a coup attempt, he warned the country could devolve into something resembling a civil war, with tribal factions fighting against each other, as well as against the Musharraf government.
But another prominent military analyst said there could be a brief silver lining in Afghanistan amid the instability next door. He urged Canada and its NATO allies to work quickly to exploit a possible opportunity.
John Thompson of the Mackenzie Institute says Islamic fighters in Pakistan will probably have their eye on a bigger prize - gaining control of their own country - and may scale back operations across the border.
"There might be a desire to pull guerillas out of Afghanistan for the next little while to use them to support Islamist paramilitaries inside Pakistan," Thompson said in an interview.
"The supply of arms and ammunition, and IEDs . . . could be diverted to other points for the next little while."
So what should Canadians and their NATO allies do if there's a temporary lull in the fighting? Work twice as quickly on development prjects to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Afghans, says Thompson.
"I think they've got an opportunity right now - if they act quickly," he said.
"(They should build) more schools, more roads, convince more tribal elders that the government is a good thing. they need to build more medical clinics now, when they have a chance."
It's true that chaos in Pakistan could, over the long term, further destabilize Afghanistan by prompting a greater flow of insurgents, military equipment and heroin across the border, he said.
But the border area has never been governable and will continue to be that way regardless of who's leading Pakistan.
"You land in Karachi and take a short taxi ride, and you're suddenly in an area where Pakistan police don't dare to go," he said.
"Support for al-Qaida and the Taliban, and the sanctuary areas, will always be in use."
To members of Canada's Pakistani community, which by some estimates numbers more than 300,000, the fears are far less academic.
Mubashar Rasool, head of the Pakistan People's Party of Quebec, believes the country may be on the verge of civil war.
"We're very close to that." he said.
In the shops of east-end Toronto's Pakistani business district, many expressed concern for loved ones living in a country embroiled in strife.
"All the time, every week, it's bomb blasting over there," said Anwar Ahmad, 50, who spoke with his father and sister in Pakistan following the assassination.
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Free elections in Muslim countries are a pipe dream. It’s well past time for plan “B”.
What makes everyone think they won’t vote for Al-Qaida and the Taliban?
Liberals are retarded. If there is a lull in the fighting we should chase down our enemies and kill as many of them as we possibly can.
That was what the heralds said, and the Hellenes listened with heavy hearts; but Clearchus spoke, and his words were few;
"Conquerors do not, as a rule, give up their arms"; then turning to the others he added,
"I leave it to you, my fellow-generals, to make the best and noblest answer, that ye may, to these gentlemen. I will rejoin you presently."
At the moment an official had summoned him to come and look at the entrails which had been taken out, for, as it chanced, he was engaged in sacrificing. As soon as he was gone, Cleanor the Arcadian, by right of seniority, answered:
"They would sooner die than give up their arms." Then Proxenus the Theban said:
"For my part, I marvel if the king demands our arms as our master, or for the sake of friendship merely, as presents. If as our master, why need he ask for them rather than come and take them? But if he would fain wheedle us out of them by fine speeches, he should tell us what the soldiers will receive in turn for such kindness." In answer to him Phalinus said:
"The king claims to have conquered, because he has put Cyrus to death; and who is there now to claim the kingdom as against himself? He further flatters himself that you also are in his power, since he holds you in the heart of his country, hemmed in by impassable rivers; and he can at any moment bring against you a multitude so vast that even if leave were given to rise and slay you could not kill them." After him Theopompus[3] the Athenian spoke.
"Phalinus," he said, "at this instant, as you yourself can see, we have nothing left but our arms and our valour. If we keep the former we imagine we can make use of the latter; but if we deliver up our arms we shall presently be robbed of our lives. Do not suppose then that we are going to give up to you the only good things which we possess. We prefer to keep them; and by their help we will do battle with you for the good things which are yours."
The article said — “Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged Pakistan to proceed with its scheduled election in two weeks - this despite the country’s main opposition party announcing a boycott after Bhutto’s murder.”
He’s an idiot. Who does he think will be running in the election if it is done as planned, for January 8th? LOL!
Regards,
Star Traveler
Remnants of an Army by Lady Elizabeth Butler.
Depicts Dr. William Brydon, an assistant surgeon in the Bengal Army arriving at the gates of Jellabad on his exhausted and dying horse. He was thought to be the sole survivor of some 16,000 strong army and followers from Kabul, which was forced to retreat the 90 miles over snow covered passes to Jellabad during the first Aghan war. A few others eventually struggled through to the fort.
Just for the “H” of it, I have updated this old post,
The India-Pakistani Conflict... some background information-
various links | 5-25-02 | backhoe
with information as it relates to the current crisis. Lots of background information on nuclear weapons in the old links.
Direct link to “last”—
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/689502/posts?page=115#115
It was at least twice. Lasted about five minutes each time.
And so far, most of the world is still sleeping.
So if we’re so concerned with Pakistan having democratic elections, we’re also equally concerned about having democratic elections in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait?...
Just wondering.
Seems like we’re setting Pakistan up, to be the next Iran.
Except Bush, is no Jimmy Carter... but everyone really needs to think this through.
Why is it, so breathtakingly important, Pakistan hold elections?
And if so, why, only there?...
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