Pakistan

by tristero

Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett contribute a blunt overview of Pakistan/Afghanistan in the wake of Bhutto’s murder. Short version: it’s even worse than the pessimists are saying. How bad is that? Well, they conclude that Musharraf, a deeply unpopular figure within Pakistan, is America’s best hope to influence the situation and counteract the Taliban. That is very bad indeed.

There is much about their article that seems disputable. For example, I think the comparison of Bhutto to Chalabi is mostly specious but they are right to recognize the parallels in the disastrous efforts by Bush to “install” both. And I think they are wrong to assert that Bush – of all presidents! – was pushing for “free and fair” elections in Pakistan. Those of us who followed American machinations during the loya jirga that installed Karzai in Afghanistan know that Bush has no interest whatsoever in democracy for the region, only in creating, for certain audiences, the illusion that it exists.

However, even with the problems that I see with parts of their analysis, the Leveretts provide a cogent and worthwhile indictment of Bush’s incredibly idiotic actions vis a vis Pakistan and Afghanistan, and a well-deserved slap at Democrats who have failed miserably to articulate both a coherent criticism of Bush’s Afghan/Pakistan policies, let alone alternatives. It highlights how important it will be for the next American government to craft a sensible foreign policy, untainted by neocon fantasies and other manifestations of American narcissism.