There is a paradigm shift in making. The US Foreign policy thinking is toying with the idea of supporting the Pakistan people as opposed to the Pakistan Government, i.e., from Musharraf Policy to Pakistan Policy. The only way to put bad policies out of circulation is to advance pragmatic sustainable ideas.The hallmark of democracy is to give value to opinions, and the sign of civility is to debate, as to how an idea is good in the long haul, at the end of the game, all will own the idea, as the idea would have developed with input from participating members. The best policy is "our policy" and not "my policy". Let's work on our language to be inclusive and goal oriented.
An acknowledgement is being made about our failed policies in Iran, Afghanistan and else where. A new policy may be taking shape that is going to be people centered, and Insha Allah, it should bring some positive results to our interests and the interests of Pakistan.
Any policy equation that has one party taking advantage of the other will boomerang. That is the moment you are down, the one that you took advantage of before is ready to jump on you. Any such advantage is deleterious to lasting peace or sustaining the relationship and thus, the cycle continues. Only the one with power can break that cycle with a full sense of justice, justice for one and all, other wise it will fail.
President Musharraf, like many other generals, monarchs and dictators made an assumption of eternity of one's life. It is embarrassing to hear President Bush, Senator Biden and others repeat "He is going to take the uniform down" - it is like stripping him in public.
President Musharraf is clean, he has a good heart and a soul, he means good for Pakistan and he has not robbed her wealth. However, he needs to be in touch with the public, he has shielded himself with Chamchas (Yes men) who adore him and tell him "sir, every thing is going just the way you wanted", don't worry, we will show them, we have the power" kind of talk. It is these people that will cause a loss of a potentially a good leader to Pakistan. President Musharraf should listen to the heroes of Pakistan, the ones who are risking their lives on the street to restore the nation to her people. They lawyers and the journalists, they will speak the truth, although they may be motivated by politics of other kind.
President Musharraf can restore his grace and dignity by going to the Pakistani Public and assuring them that he is not for life and that he has made mistakes, which he will restore the court system and he will let the media report with full freedom, and the emergency will be lifted. His intentions are good and he is not afraid of any inquiry. He has got to lay out the plan what he is going to do.
If he can do that, I am certain, the public trust in him will increase and he will have a say in the future of Pakistan. The Pakistani public is moderate and will honor him for being truthful. He has got to do that, or else, he will be made to do it. If he fails to do that, he will be asked to strip and he will have no choice but to oblige, one item at a time and then he may have to seek asylum at Crawford Ranch.
Link: http://mikeghouseforamerica.blogspot.com/2007/11/pakistan-breaking-cycle.html
Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is president of the www.FoundationforPluralism.com and is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of the www.WorldMuslimCongress.com with a simple theme: "Good for Muslims and good for the world." His personal Website is www.MikeGhouse.net and his articles can be found on the Websites mentioned above and in his Blogs: http://MikeGhouseforAmerica.Blogspot.com and http://MikeGhouse.Sulekha.com Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com
