A.H Amin

If a man is hated , it is Ok as long as he is feared .This was the common agreement among all great political philosophers starting from ancient Greece till Machiavelli.The problem commences when a man in a supreme institutional or political position is hated as well despised , but not sufficiently feared.This is the case of General Musharraf dismissed army chief of Pakistan.Dismissed by the elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 12 October 1999 but reinstated by force of G-3 rifles of the 111 Independent Infantry Brigade Group located in Westridge Military Barracks in Rawalpindi.

Musharraf's dilemma is his desire to be a liberal as well as please the USA and to please the majority Punjabis and yet be a great military commander.In his last ambition he miserably failed at Kargil.In his first ambition he had a mixed success and failure.In his second ambition he did well as a good servant and dog catcher of USA.In pleasing the Punjabis he has had a great success, which is why the NATION a Punjabi nationalist newspaper is now less critical of him.

On the surface it seems an ordinary story of a third world tinpot military ruler.Seen in depth it presents a clear and critical danger to world peace.How should it be explained.The following paragraphs are a brief attempt to do so.

Pan Islamism in the modern sense had its origins in India.Now Indo Pak is the centre of Pan Islamism.After 1857 some opportunist Muslim leaders gained hold of the leadership of Indian Muslims and promised them a moon and stars under the garb of Muslim separatism.Pakistan was created in 1947 but the Muslim masses discovered that the Muslim higher classes created the country for their narrow class aims.

From 1947 till 2001 the Pakistan Army used Islam to justify its narrow institutional aims .The exercise started in 1947 and continued till 2001.The humble Risaldar Major's son Ayub , the miltary tailor masters son Zia , and now Musharraf.While use of Islam in the short term was good for the Pakistani political elite and the military, in the long run it may lead to civil war and even Balkanisation of Pakistan.

When Musharraf abandoned the Islamic slogan in 2001 , like a terrified puppy once the big Bull Dog from Washington DC called him it was good for Pakistan , its army and its higher classes in the short run.But at what cost . A large number of lives were lost in the name of fighting for Islam in 1947 and now suddenly the Muslim elite abandoned Islam.

The shameless way in which Musharraf is handing over Islamists like a cheap dog catcher is even counterproductive for USA.For every man handed over to USA , USA gains a millionfold extra hatred and Musharraf becomes yet more despised.Small gain in a global long term strategic game.Anyhow the USA is a master in making despised Shahs of Irans !

While military conspiracies in the past were launched by officers as in 1950 Pindi Conspiracy , 1972-73 Attock Conspiracy , 1976 and 1980 Gen Tajammul Conspiracy , Abbasi Conspiracy of 1993 , Musharraf's case is unique in the sense that all four attempts against him were launched by soldiers and non commissioned officers.Cross Questioning at court martials proves that Musharraf is the most hated and despised army chief in the Muslim world.I had a chance to read the proceedings of one such court martial in detail and was convinced that Musharraf is hated and despised as a cheap opportunist but not feared.My service in Pakistan Army from 1981 to 1993 tells me that Musharraf will be gunned down by soldiers , common soldiers for having sold Islam and Pakistan , i dont say this is a right or wrong perception but a perception that is held by conviction in ranks and files of Pakistan Army and Airforce, the navy is too small but it may have its fundos.One man at the court martial proceedings stated that Musharraf was not a Muslim and was involved in murder of Air Chief Marshal Mushaf the ex Air Chief.On said that Musharraf had pimps all around him like Qureshi and Mrs Ali , owner of a beauty parlor in Lahore Cantonment.One man stated that Musharraf was a US agent with the task of destroying Pakistan's nuclear programme.

The Sergeant executed from Sindh , probably Jacobabad or Shikarpur was particularly vocal.He was fearless , armed with the conviction that he was waging a just Jihad against a cheap , social climber , an opportunist , who is ready to sell his honour for very cheap personal gains.

Opportunism is paying but the stupid as well as shameless way it is being practiced by Musharraf is simply counter productive.It will unleash a backlash which can endanger world peace. All because Musharraf wants to stay in power.

The USA has no strategic perception.War is not a cavalry charge .Strategy is a massive slow flowing river whose course or discharge cannot be predicted.The USA has no great strategist.Muscle they surely have but little grey matter.

In personal terms Musharraf has done well.Son of a clerk promoted to officer rank at the end of his service Musharraf is a rich man as South Asia Tribunes well researched stories prove.Best friend of the biggest crook in Pakistan Shiekh Yousuf of Hasnain Cotex its a great story of rise from rags to riches but in strategic terms Musharraf is Pakistans Trojan Horse.

All will lead in the end to strategic anarchy.I had predicted in my article published in South Asia Tribume that Musharraf will be threatened by lower ranks in February 2003 and this is what happened in December 2004.All these trends can be assessed but I dont know what kind of blockheads are making policy in the US State Department.US policy has been a failure , Afghanistan and Iran occupied but not pacified .Iran and North Korea a threat .China and Russia waiting with enjoyment and seeing the USA stuck in a strategic quicksand.

Pakistan led by the most despised army chief in the Muslim world and a big strategic liability for US .This war Americans is not simple.There is no tangible target , no Berlin or USSR to be dealt with .You are dealing with the whole Muslim race . This war may prove to be USA's culiminating point in the Clausewitzian sense.Life goes on.