So, whats up with Pakistan?

[Smull]

I'm a little late with posting this but interesting thing have been going on in Pakistan. I'll give the cliff notes version of the past week's events and give links for those who want to read into it more.

Aug 1st.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/wo...ss&oref=slogin

American intelligence agencies have concluded that members of Pakistan’s powerful spy service helped plan the deadly July 7 bombing of India’s embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, according to United States government officials.

Aug 7th.
Pakistan coalition to move for Musharraf impeachment | Reuters

Pakistan's ruling coalition will move to impeach President Pervez Musharraf on charges of plunging the country into a political and economic crisis, party leaders said on Thursday.

State Department throws Musharraf from the train | FP Passport

Looks like the United States isn't planning on sticking its neck out for Pervez Musharraf...
Considering what State Department spokesmen used to say about Musharraf, that's tantamount to saying, "Sayonara, Pervez!"

Good fucking riddance. Pakistan has been a real half assed ally for a while now, and generally just more trouble than their worth. the U.S. has given Pakistan over 10 billion in aid since 9-11 and nothings come of it. Musharaff has been a huge pain in the ass (ie an asshole dictator), very little has been done to curb Al-Queda in Pakistan, and its been very detrimental to our ties with India. Its about time we cut these fuckers loose.

[WickedLou9]

It's about time they had a civilian ruler.

[C4Casey]

I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand Musharraf is a dictator and has been in power way too long. On the other hand, Pakistan's elected government has been alarmingly friendly with radical Islamists. I think this will probably end up being a lose-lose situation for the U.S. If Musharraf stays in power, Pakistan still won't let us go after the Taliban in their country. If he loses power, at best the same will happen and at worst a pro-Islamist government will take power, just like Hamas did in the Gaza strip.

[motivez]

Update:

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Sindh provincial assembly Wednesday passed a resolution against President Pervez Musharraf, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

The resolution asked Musharraf to take a vote of confidence or resign, said the report.

If Musharraf failed to do either, he would be impeached in the parliament, according to the resolution.

The Punjab and North West Frontier Province provincial assemblies also passed resolutions demanding that Musharraf take confidence vote.

The resolutions of these two provinces are follow-up measures taken by the ruling coalition to pull Musharraf down.

The Pakistan People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari announced on Aug. 7 that the ruling coalition would initiate the proceedings to impeach Musharraf.

Pakistan's Sindh provincial assembly passes resolution against Musharraf_English_Xinhua

[motivez]

Originally Posted by C4Casey

I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand Musharraf is a dictator and has been in power way too long. On the other hand, Pakistan's elected government has been alarmingly friendly with radical Islamists. I think this will probably end up being a lose-lose situation for the U.S. If Musharraf stays in power, Pakistan still won't let us go after the Taliban in their country. If he loses power, at best the same will happen and at worst a pro-Islamist government will take power, just like Hamas did in the Gaza strip.

What's worrysome is the fact that every time there have been elections in the Islamic world (with the exception of Turkey), the people have voted for non-secular, pro-Islamic parties who move the nation further away from western, secular values in their government.

Because Pakistan has nuclear weapons, we really have to worry about what would happen if the country was taken over by those with sympathy towards people like Al Qaeda and other Islamic groups

Musharraf is not a perfect solution, but he does play a role in keeping that country perhaps more 'stable' than another government would.