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VALLEY
PATRIOT EDITORIAL
Democracy
in Pakistan
There is a rush to
judgment by the media and our government, both Democrats
and Republicans, reacting to Pakistans Pervez
Musharrafs declaration of emergency and suspension
of their constitution. Everyone now waving the flag
of democracy says this is the anti-democratic conduct of
a dictator, and should be stopped immediately!
Unfortunately, those of us hung up on democracy for the
sake of democracy dont look at history and realize
that not all people are politically mature or responsible
enough to handle democracy. Adolf Hitler came to
power through democratic elections. And Germany was
far greater advanced intellectually, technically and
materially than most nations of that time.
The law of unintended consequences comes into play when
good people over-preach democracy, without looking around
the corner. Hamas, whose faithful followers kill,
murder and perpetually create mayhem, was democratically
elected in Gaza, and presents the world with one of the
most serious threats to peace in the Mid-East.
Sometimes it is wise to support the best of the worst, in
order to not go deeper into chaos and misery.
During World War II, we made allies with one of the most
tyrannical butchers in history, Joseph Stalin, and at the
time, it was absolutely the right thing to do.
Winston Churchill said, If Hitler invaded hell, I
would at least make a favorable reference to the devil in
the House of Commons.
The United States failure to consider such
sentiments in large part led to the present MidEast
troubles as we withdrew our support for the Shah of Iran,
and allowed the socalled voice of the people
force him into exile. The unintended consequence
was to set up an Islamic state far more repressive, and
of greater threat to the peace of the world, than the
Shah ever was or would have been. Shades of the
same kind of thinking seem to be reflected in the United
States policy toward Musharraf today.
Musharraf is the man in the hot seat. His life has
been threatened many times by Islamic terrorists.
By tempering our criticism at this juncture, what a
bargain we might strike by pressing him to allow our
troops access to Pakistani territory in pursuit of Bin
Laden.
Benazir Bhutto, the previously twice-elected Prime
Minister of Pakistan, was twice-dismissed for involvement
in various corruption scandals. She is no bargain
either. And her conduct during the present
governmental crisis does not lend support to the
perception of calm, rational thinking. While it is
alleged that her problems were politically motivated by
the opposition, and undoubtedly there is much to that,
the saying goes, Where theres smoke, theres
fire. And surrounding Bhuttos stay in
power, there was plenty of smoke. Much of the
evidence of corruption, money-laundering and whisking
away of funds into foreign banks comes from French,
Polish and Swiss governments.
When the choice to be made is between a benevolent
dictator, a scandalous and corrupt democrat or a
state-sponsored terror regime, the elimination of the
first choice may be all it takes to head down a slippery
slope to the last. We had better watch our step.
There is a saying, Better the devil you know than
the one you dont.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The December 2007
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
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All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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