When I was thinking about the fate of Pakistan last night, an old adage “. . .the more things change the more they remain the same . . . ” drifts across my mind like a hauntingly familiar ghost.  Amost 10 years ago an article titled Oh Pakistan appeared in the 1999 October issue of The Economist.  The article was written  a few days after General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s new military leader, had taken charge:

“Pakistan has been in such a mess for so long that it is tempting to conclude that the country is doomed. It was created in the chaos of partition, and torn since birth between conflicting cultures. It has a tribal social structure, an Islamic ideology and a legal and political system that is British in origin. Islamic and secular law battle each other. Tribal loyalties distort the democratic process. Shia and Sunni Muslims shoot each other on the streets. From the west, Afghanistan’s Taliban spill into Pakistan and bolster the growing ranks of its fundamentalists. On the other side of the country, the perpetual conflict with India over Kashmir helps destabilise domestic politics. In response to one mess or another, the generals have ousted politicians before, in 1958, in 1971 and in 1977.”

The same words could be used to describe Pakistan today, ten years later.

 CELEBRATION IN THE STREETS
FROM Agence France Presse

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18, 2008 (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday in the face of looming impeachment charges, ending a turbulent nine years in power for the key US ally.

The former army chief, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, had been under huge pressure to quit before the coalition government launched the first impeachment proceedings in Pakistan's 61-year history.

Celebrations erupted in several cities after the announcement, with people dancing in the streets, although the country's political future -- as well as Pakistan's role in the US "war on terror" -- now is far from certain.

"After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and poltical allies, with their advice I have decided to resign," a grim-faced Musharraf, wearing a sober suit and tie, said in a televised address to the nation.

"I leave my future in the hands of the people."

from Agence France-Presse

"ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan's ruling coalition tightened the screw on President Pervez Musharraf Sunday, saying that it had readied impeachment charges against him and was giving him two days to stand down.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar told AFP that "the charge sheet will be presented in parliament by Tuesday." Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a day earlier that Musharraf had to decide on quitting "by today or tomorrow."

The coalition finalised the charges on Sunday after intense deliberations and would present them on Monday to the alliance's leaders, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said. . . "

_______________________

Musharraf said that he will wait until the impeachment motion is filed before choosing a course of action.

I also read in the Pakistan News that Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday that granting asylum to embattled President Pervez Musharraf was not under consideration by the United States.

Musharraf says he will not step down. Instead he will face impeachment.

This morning’s Hindustan Times reports that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf rejected reports that he would step down before the launch of impeachment proceeding against him, saying that he was prepared to face the motion in parliment in a “democratic spirit and in accordance with the constitiution.” The beleaguered President also made it clear that he had no intention of using his powers to dissolve parliament.

Well, all that remains to be seen. My guess is that if the impeachment proceedings do not meet with Musharraf’s approval that he will dissolve parliament. The consequences of that will be a revolution in Pakistan.

Update on Musharraf's Impeachment Proceedings  - 
Looks like Musharraf might be a whistle blower

Hindustan Times Aug 12 - Musharraf vows to expose coalition as 2nd Assembly Asks him to quit.  Besieged President Pervex Musharraf has threatened to “expose the failures” of the ruling coalition as a second provincial Assembly on Tuesday adoped a resolution asking him to seek a confidence vote in Parliament which will take up impeachment motions against him next week.

Musharraf to Face Strong Impeachment

An Associated Press Release from Islamabad - Aug 10 informs us that Ruling coalition officials met on Sunday to finalise the list of charges against the embattled president, Law Minister Farooq Naek said in comments broadcast on Geo TV.

The lower house of Parliament is expected to convene on Monday to begin impeachment proceedings against Musharraf. The former army chief has resisted calls to resign, and his allies say he will fight the claims against him.

The world of Pakistan politics can be venomous, savage and cruel. The death of Benazir Bhutto continues the brutal, poisonous trend in Pakistan’s malevolent political combat. Benazir Bhutto played this lethal game as well as anyone.

As the daughter of Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto grew up in a family of wealthy Pakistan landowners who were among the political elite. Her father’s reputation is one of arrogant tyrant who tortured political opponents, rigged elections and lived in a world of political corruption. He was executed on the orders of General Zia after a trial much like the trials Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had inflicted on his opponents. Two of Benazir Bhutto’s brothers were known as international terrorists involved in the hijacking of civil aircraft in the 1980’s.

When she was Prime Minister, Benzair Bhutto attempted to control the press and the judiciary just as President Musharraf does today. The death of Benazir Bhutto did not mark the end of her venomous attacks on her opposition; in fact, Benazir Bhutto carefully planned to reach out from the grave to stab at her opponent President Musharraf. Benazir Bhutto had sent an email to CNN prior to her death which was to be read after her death. In that email, and former interviews, she accused President Musharraf in advance of being responsible for her death. Benazir Bhutto’s book will also reach out from her grave with the power of  a martyred author’s last words. Benazir Bhutto also left last instructions for her supporters and her party.

In a culture that prizes martyrdom, Benazir Bhutto not only used her role as a martyr well, but she also has played Pakistan’s ruthless political combat well. Many questions remain, not only about the circumstances of her death, but why the highly educated Condoleezza Rice supported sending Benasir Bhutto to her death. Surely the highly educated Condoleezza Rice and the ever-watchful CIA knew the dangers of Pakistan’s political environment better than this less-educated writer, yet Condoleezza Rice supported Benazir Bhutto’s return and her certain death. Given the history of the CIA, and given the Bush Administration’s failure to capture Osama bin Laden, one can not help but wonder if the return of Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan was a part of a greater CIA plot to remove President Musharraf because he had failed to provide enough assistance for the Bush Administration’s war on terrorism and because he had failed to bring forward democratic reform in Pakistan. Condoleezza Rice called Benazir Bhutto a “champion for democracy,” and also said, “The way to honor her memory is to continue the democratic process in Pakistan so that the democracy that she so hoped for can emerge.” Condoleezza Rice is clearly helping Benazir Bhutto reach out from the grave to stab at President Musharraf.

Written by Roxie Howard 12/29/07.  Public domain.

I didn't realize that John Edwards had these kinds of international connections.

Here is a link to a transcript from Radio Iowa of him talking to Musharraf today regarding Bhutto.

 http://learfield.typepad.com/radioiowa/2007/12/john-edwards-ta.html