Musharraf’s actions create perilous situation

Loory: Pakistan is considered to be an important ally of the United States in the war against terrorism and the campaign to convert authoritarian governments to democracy. Pakistan’s ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, came to power in 1999 in a military coup with the intent of bringing the rule of law and some personal freedom to a country where corruption and oppression highlighted government operations. By 2003, Musharraf began to regress, and the U.S. war in Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban and bring al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden to justice was in full swing. The U.S. counted on Pakistan to help, but it was getting little. Instead, it discovered that the man who had made Pakistan a nuclear power had been selling his services to North Korea and Iran, but Musharraf did little to discipline him. Despite U.S. fears about nuclear proliferation, the Bush administration continued to lavish some $10 billion a year in aid to its Pakistani allies. Last weekend, Musharraf staged his second coup — dissolving parliament, suspending the constitution, closing down the Supreme Court and arresting political opposition. Musharraf has indicated he will postpone parliamentary elections slated for January to as long as two years. Opposition leaders have been arrested and face the death penalty. What is going on in Pakistan?