Ever since the sacking of the Chief Justice, it has been a downslide for Musharraf's apparently unassailable position in Pakistan, be it domestically or internationally.
The position of Musharraf had become precarious with the Opposition going hammer and tongs and ganging up against him and blaming him for all the problems of Pakistan. Apparently, there were people who were listening to this accusation and possibly believing it too! This, obviously, would not bode well in the looming elections.
Internationally, his position was getting compromised with the criticism cascading by the day on his handling the internal political situation and the terrorists.
There was media speculation that the US is planning to attack Pakistan. Obama, the US Presidential contender, openly advocated the same!
There appeared a concerted effort to isolate him and denigrate his position as the President of Pakistan, both internally and internationally.
All this broke the camel's back.
Musharraf had to react the way he has reacted, to show all, more so, domestically, that he still is around and calls the shots.
His statement has gone down well with the Pakistani people; a large majority of them being averse to the collusion with the US against fellow Moslems.
Thus, Musharraf has snatched his prime position in Pakistan back from the jaws of ignominy! QED.
The election outcome of his nominees hence has become brighter than before.
The US will not barter away the pristine position it enjoys currently with Pakistan. From the US point of view, it cannot get embroiled in another large scale operation, especially whose outcome is open to question. If it fails in such an operation, it would compromise her position as the only superpower of the world. Therefore, the thought of the US attacking is far fetched and ridiculous.
However, such a thought being given credence, is ideal for the political advantage it gives both the US as also Pakistan.
The idea to attack Pakistan would serve to calm the critics back home in the US who are griping about Pakistan not doing enough against terrorism, and in Pakistan, the angry and tough reaction, would shore Musharraf against the daily upsurge of the Opposition accusations. It will also give a 'feel good' feeling to the vast majority who oppose the collusion with the US against fellow Moslems.
The coup de grace would be putting the fear of God in the terrorists operating in the border belt of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This would be ideal for both, the US and the Pakistani govts.
This anti US tirade will also allow Musharraf the moral stick to launch effective operations against the terrorists. A large majority of the Pakistani population would be assuaged that a Pakistani operation and not that of a foreign power is calling the shots and that Pakistan or Musharraf, is no longer an appendage in the Bush's GWOT and instead is on its own! The influx of Pakistani troops in this region would also give the impression that there is the necessity to have them positioned there to avert any US aggression! At the same time, such troops would sanitise the area of terrorists with repeated operations being the order of the day.
The critical point to note is that Bush, personally, has never given any indication that Musharraf is not doing his bit in the GWOT. Instead, Bush has always praised Musharraf and Pakistan even when there has been the tirade against Pakistan in the US.
This point is very critical and the woods must not be missed for the trees.
And Bush calls the shots in the US!
This new scenario would keep both the US and the Pakistani population pleased as Punch, while the govts would merrily go along with whatever they were doing.
A good move!
. I said that folks from all over Pakistan WOULD go and fight against an invasion of the tribal areas.
