Typo: I meant to say, “There are many, many incidents that are not as high profile like the above three that seriously challenge the idea that India IS the land of milk, honey, and democracy.”

“Instead of blaming America, why not take a mini tour back into Pakistan’s history.”

I agree with you that one tends to lay the blame on America often. But you cannot discount the fact that a superpower can apply pressure to weaker states, no? For example, look at how many Pakistanis have vigorously protested Musharraf’s sacking of the Chief Justice and the attempt to quiet journalists who are critical of him. And yet the US has pledged its support of the Musharraf regime. This isn’t just by words, but by multi-million packages of weapons and support. This fact is not lost on critical Pakistanis (and others, obviously, like myself).

Pakistan’s lack of democracy from its inception has certainly laid it vulnerable to the whims of superpowers, but it’s not enough to say, “Look at Pakistan; don’t blame at the US.”

“Blame Jinnah first, whose lust for power and hatred led to the partition.”

Are you sure about this? I’d like to know where you are getting this idea from (books? mags? ideological assertions?). Jinnah wasn’t “lusting” for partition; in fact, the Muslim League was initially against the idea of partition. Furthermore, there were Hindu fundamentalists who had also been prime supporters of Partition as well. So it’s not simply Jinnah’s lust for power and his hatred.

“Blame the Generals, who following Jinnah’s demise never allowed democracy to even get a foot hold, let alone foster, like it did in India.”

Ok, the Generals have been messed up; but come on, you’re holding up India as a paragon of democracy. Though these are in some ways all separate arguments, are you thinking about Indira Gandhi when you say this? The anti Sikh riots that left 3,000 people dead? The Gujarat pogrom of killing nearly 2,000 Gujarati Muslims? NONE of the inciters and participants of this violence- to this day- have been charged with any crime and/or murder. This absolute impunity that murderers enjoy does not resonate with “democracy” at all. There are many, many incidents that are not as high profile like the above three that seriously challenge the idea that India is not the land of milk, honey, and democracy. When we talk about a just law being equally applied to everyone, when aberrations in terms of sidestepping the law are no longer the norm, and so on, then we can talk.

Instead of blaming America, why not take a mini tour back into Pakistan’s history.
Blame Jinnah first, whose lust for power and hatred led to the partition.
Blame the Generals, who following Jinnah’s demise never allowed democracy to even get a foot hold, let alone foster, like it did in India.

This may be a necessary evil to facilitate positive actions aligned to the long term strategy he has in mind. Then again it may not.

Still, for the time being I’d rather wait and see. I have a feeling he really does have the people’s best interests at heart. It’s a massively pluralistic and interlink set of responsibilities. It’s possible that this is NOT a repeat of military rule of the past, but a desperate fix-it trying to shush everyone else temporarily to say “shut up and let me concentrate!”

Who knows? I say give him a fair go (some more years - it’s a time consuming job - can’t expect miracles, 50 yrs of crap washed away in 10)

http://michaeldorf.org/2007/06/musharraf-v-new-york-times-dawn-aaj-tv.html#c6082613779897492680

It is indeed tunnel vision that the US has when it comes to countries that are geo-strategically significant to “US interests.” It matters little what the citizens think, desire, or aspire to. There are numerous examples in history.

The crackdown of the press just adds more fodder to the idea that Musharraf needs to go.