A New York Times editoral warns that Pakistani President Pervez
Musharraf
has let loose many of the Islamic terrorists he arrested earlier as part of his
efforts to curry favor with the US in the war on terror. This is certainly a very
bothersome thing if true. Many (myself included) had hopes that Musharraf could
be the next Ataturk – a military dictator who turns his country into a functioning
democracy after his departure.
It seems as though Musharraf may need some reminders from the State
Department that the war on terror isn’t over, and staying in the good graces of the
US requires more than a few token actions. Pakistan has a chance to become a
more stable and prosperous state, but only if the United States reminds President
Musharraf that it’s in his best interests to make that happen.
