International Herald Tribune Editorial - The general in his labyrinth

International Herald Tribune Editorial - The general in his labyrinth
Copyright by The International Herald Tribune
Published: July 9, 2007


America needs to maintain friendly relations with Pakistan. That is exactly why Washington should hasten to disentangle itself from the sinking fortunes of General Pervez Musharraf - a blundering and increasingly unpopular military dictator and a halfhearted strategic ally of the United States.

After Sept. 11 - fearing he could become a target in President George W. Bush's declared war on terrorism - Musharraf agreed to drop his open support for the Taliban in Afghanistan and provide limited intelligence and logistical help to U.S. forces there.

Still, he has done far less than he promised - and far less than is needed. It's not clear which side his intelligence services are rooting for, while Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters continue to find shelter and support on Pakistan's side of the Afghan border. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that the Bush administration scrubbed a 2005 U.S. attempt to capture Al Qaeda leaders on Pakistani soil so as not to cause trouble for Musharraf. Meanwhile, Washington continues to uncritically support the general's highhanded rule.

We've seen this story too many times before. One version starred the shah of Iran, others some of Musharraf's predecessors. None ended happily for the United States or the nations involved. Dealing with dictators is sometimes necessary. Clinging to them when their people want them gone is unbecoming of the world's greatest democracy and unhealthy for America's long-term interests.

Pakistan is approaching a turning point. Local Taliban militias and their Islamist allies have capitalized on Musharraf's appeasement policies and are extending their influence. The middle class is in revolt over the general's sacking of Pakistan's chief justice, his attempts at media censorship and his effort to award himself a new presidential term without free and fair elections. Military officers are tired of taking the heat and some are now pressing for a return to civilian government.

Musharraf may hold on to power a while longer, or he may not. But it is past time for the Bush administration to stop making excuses for the general. Washington needs to make clear to the Pakistani people that America is the ally of their country, not their dictator, and that the United States favors the earliest possible return to free elections and civilian rule.