Who is really in command in Pakistan?

by; Lt. Col. Allen West (retired),

The assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto evidences who is really in command in Pakistan: Islamic terrorists and their ideology. Pervez Musharref has done nothing to promote civil liberties, constitutional order or rule of law in Pakistan. He is a despotic ruler who has been playing the Roman god Janus with the US, and indeed the world. Pakistan has received billions in US foreign aid in money and weapons support, but none of it has gone to fight against Islamic terrorism. It has been stockpiled to fight against their traditional enemy, the world's largest democratic state, India.

When Musharref ordered the withdrawal of Pakistani troops from Waziristan it allowed the establishment of a new terrorist sanctuary, a self-proclaimed "Talibanistan". The standoff at the Red Mosque earlier this month allowed us to see what happens when the radical islamists attempt to extend their ideology beyond the declared walls of sanctuary.

Benazir Bhutto knew the day she landed she was a marked woman, but her courage should embolden us to accept reality. That reality is that we face a barbaric and committed enemy which has no regard for liberty and freedoms, only their warped and insane 7th century vision of an antiquated totalitarian, imperialistic ideology. The best way to give tribute to Benazir Bhutto is to commit, as she did, to eradicate Islamic terrorism, the mysticism which holds hostage those who seek to step out of darkness, and into the light of individual freedom, not collective religious slavery.

There can be no doubt that Pervez Musharref and the Pakistan ISI allowed these continuous attacks to take place against Bhutto, until the enemies of our world were successful.

If our world leadership is serious, they will abandon the empty rhetoric of "strong condemnation" and begin to cut off aid to Pakistan and Musharref. We will begin to regulate the visas granted to Pakistan and revoke student visas. We will look to shut down our embassies. And lastly we will not allow the terrorist enemy sanctuary, wherever he seeks to find it, and that includes cross-border strike operations. These measures are not against the people of Pakistan who desire rule of law, civil liberties, and freedom. It is meant to place pressure and responsibility to enact a change. These measures would be meant to set conditions for those seeking reform to enact such, and restore honor and dignity to Pakistan.

Musharref is not an ally. He is a despotic user. Having been in southern Afghanistan, I know of the Chechnyans, Saudis, Yemenis, Uzbeks, Pakistanis, Somalis, and other Arabs who are captured in Afghanistan….and they have come from across the border in Pakistan. We all know that during the winter months many of the Taliban return to Waziristan to refit and retrain, preparing for the next spring campaign season. We know that the stories of Pakistan 'capturing' Taliban are just a hoax; in actuality they round up many Talibs who refuse to return to Afghanistan to fight.

Bhutto sacrificed her life to inspire all of us to stop "playing war" with this enemy, and face the truth that they are determined to enslave us all, and no one is safe from their maniacal desires. In particular, western female political leaders should be enraged at the loss of a promising voice. Our response to this tragedy must resound clearly, and not be a typical sound bite. We have to stand together as a free world.

We must declare the enemy to be Islamic terrorism (Al Qaeda, Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic Jihad, Al Aqsa Brigade, Al Quds Brigade, Iranian Republican Guards, Abu Sayyaf, Jemaat al Islamiah) and the state sponsors who provide them sanctuary and support: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, and Pakistan.

It is quite simple. Strategically we must:

* Deny this enemy sanctuary,

* Interdict his support (men, materiel, and money),

* Isolate him,

* Contain the promulgation of his ideology, and lastly

* Disrupt his operations worldwide.

This is not Bush's War. It is not a war in Iraq. It is a world war, an ideological struggle which cannot simply find a solution in appeasement, compromise, or negotiation. It takes bullets and words, the ability to know when to use each, and the willingness to do so.

Let not Benazir Bhutto's death be in vain.

My thanks to Jamie Walker for bringing this article to my attention.

Chic Hendricks