Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 31, 2007 Tevet 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:14 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 12:17 30/12/2007 Democracy will have to wait By Zvi Bar'el Tags: nukes, U.S. Pervez Musharraf  Pakistan is tough on its leaders. Benazir Bhutto's father, who was prime minister, was executed by his successor, Gen. Zia ul-Haq, who made himself president. Zia himself died in a mysterious helicopter crash in 1988, and now Bhutto, America's choice for the country's next prime minister and a symbol of democracy, was eliminated by political or religious rivals. Pakistan is also tough on its inhabitants. The country's laws are based on Islamic law. The press is free, but the boundaries of its independence are determined by the head of state. Its parliament is lively and active - until the leader decides to dissolve it. Pakistan is also not always welcoming toward its allies. The state supported the Taliban and is undergoing an accelerated process of Talibanization. In thousands of religious schools the students learn that democracy is an evil Western invention and that foreigners should be killed, or at the very least hated. All of this can shed light on why Bhutto was murdered. There are several options: 1. Muslim extremists, some of them allied with the military leadership, feared the democratic change she promised to bring if elected. 2. The army sought to foil her plan to subordinate it to the government, especially after it observed how President Pervez Musharraf was forced to bend to Washington's edicts and resign from the army. 3. Someone from Pakistan's "Taliban" decided that a few hundred dead was worth the head of Bhutto, who had publicly expressed her abhorrence of them. (Many years ago, by the way, she actually supported Afghanistan's Taliban.) Advertisement And then there is always Al-Qaida, who is always willing to claim responsibility for any act of terror, whether or not it was its doing. Al-Qaida is a good cover for any regime that cannot battle domestic terror, because ostensibly an international coalition is necessary to fight it, absolving individual states from responsibility. But the aggregation of the reasons that political, military or religious agents have for wanting Bhutto dead - reasons particular to Pakistan - now play perfectly into the hands of those who continually blamed "Islam" as a whole and expressed chagrin over the country's lack of democracy. But neither religion nor a lack of democracy per se are responsible for the terror or assassinations. Rather, those lovers of authority who use them for their own needs are responsible. Pakistan, for example, is controlled by a dictator impersonating a civilian ruler. Musharraf turned in his army uniform for an expensive tailored suit and appointed his deputy as army chief. But in effect, nothing has changed. Musharraf is presenting himself as the enemy of terrorism - a good slogan for anyone who wants to destroy his political adversaries or present democracy as a threat. The slogan also plays well in the Bush White House, which has still not decided which is better, fighting terror or exporting democracy. After all, this is the same administration that cooked up the new partnership between Bhutto and Musharraf in a bid to keep the dictator in power. It isn't only Musharraf who believes that democracy is not the precise tool for ruling Pakistan. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Syrian President Bashar Assad, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, also believe in a "unique democracy" cut to the cloth of the regime in each state. All of them can be reassured by the policies of democracy salesmen such as Bush and his predecessors, as well as Europe's leaders. On the one hand, these leaders argue that democracy is the only guarantee against terror, but on the other, they did and do cooperate with these despotic regimes as long as they serve their interests and even call them "moderate regimes." Is it possible now for someone to rise up and make a serious call, for example, for Pakistan's democratization after Bhutto's assassination? After all, Pakistan is a nuclear state, and no one wants a nuclear bomb in the hands of an Islamic or terrorist regime, for example, that was elected democratically. We're better off with a dictator; democracy can wait. Bookmark to del.icio.us Au revoir Assad Sarkozy says he'll cut ties with Syria over the Lebanon presidential crisis. Women march on Women in Black marks its 20th year, but the occupation continues.   1.   Good Analysis, Except For... 12:46  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 30/12/07   2.   Bomb shelters will be back in style 14:58  |  Natallie Durson 30/12/07   3.   Despotic dictatorial regimes 15:50  |  Zaman 30/12/07   4.   Durson`s dellusions 16:19  |  Ehud 30/12/07   5.   Democracy is More than Casting Votes 16:20  |  Tom 30/12/07   6.   Paying the Price for Democracy 16:58  |  Jane 30/12/07   7.   Is democracy relevant to US? 17:57  |  Rick 30/12/07   8.   How is democracy is a c. to human rights 19:38  |  An American 30/12/07   9.   failed islamic republic of pakistan 20:43  |  Om 30/12/07   10.   Everyone knows Musharraf killed her, read Robert Fisk`s article 21:02  |  Hypocrisy Monitor 30/12/07   11.   democracy, shmuckrucy. 21:14  |  ManInTheMiddle 30/12/07   12.   To # 2 Ehud, people who are living in a bubble 21:15  |  hypocrisy Monitor 30/12/07   13.   # 2 Pakistan-a state with no identity does not deserve to live... 03:10  |  Misha 31/12/07

Today Online PM spokesman says Israel taking bin Laden threat seriously Responses: 394 Pinpointed IAF attacks in Gaza more precise, hurt fewer civilians Responses: 164 Harel and Issacharoff: Nipping new Jewish terror group in the bud Responses: 121 Women in Black marks 20th year, but occupation continues Responses: 75 France to cut ties to Syria over Lebanese presidential crisis Responses: 69 More Headlines 00:40 Palestinians: IDF kills Gazan en route from hajj 23:09 PM spokesman says Israel taking bin Laden threat seriously 21:20 EU blasts Palestinian bid to pass banned chemical off as food aid 02:30 Number of 'large families' rises, despite welfare payment cuts 01:59 Arab pupils lag behind Jewish peers in reading comprehension 20:42 Iranian envoy offers Egypt cooperation on nuclear program 01:45 Surviving hiker recounts Friday`s shooting attack in Hebron Hills 18:30 Comptroller aides: Bank Leumi case against Olmert still open 23:28 France to cut Syria ties over Lebanon presidential crisis Previous Editions Select Day 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved