Some musings
Nothing dramatic would have happened if Benazir would have become the President of Pakistan. That being said, her reign would definitely have corroded some of the power which the Pakistan's army had consolidated since 1999. Like many infamous political assassinations, her's too would remain controversial and unresolved. As I listen to the news channels and the analysis about her killing in US, I am surprised at the level of ignorance of so many well meaning journalists.
Large sections of the US media and the political spectrum in US continue to believe and back President Musharaf. Like the lone voice I heared from one of the news channels - US in general continues to support individuals rather than institutions. In the coming days, situation in Pakistan will continue to deteriate. It will never be a dramatic event - like somebody seizing the parliament or taking control of nuclear weapons (although I will not be surprised if these two does happen), but most likely, it will hang on the edge of chaos - barely sustaining as a country. This way, the fundamentalism that is festering in this country will continue to ripen. And when US realizes this, it will be too late. This scenaria has a profound impact on India and its security. I wish my country could choose it geograpy, but it so happens that when all hell breaks loose, it is India that will be most affected and that too immediately.
For first time in India, we believe we could make a difference. In another 25 years we believe we can lift millions out of poverty and finally bring a change to humanity as all. But it might just be a pipe dream if we have to fight not just poverty but also fundamentalism.
The general theory I have in life is that - Systems inherently resist change. The more pronouced and surgical the change is; the more accute the resistance will be. If fundamentalism and terrorism needs to be brought to its knees, War on terror alone is inadequate. It requires more than muscle. It requires a cunning, agile and extremely intelligent planning. It requires slow nibbling of the sources of terrorism, starving the feeders of fundamentalism - albeit slowly and invisibly. To take a very high level view of this, the money and the weapons that are being used in the terrorism most likely are generated by the US. Why does North Korea or libya are considered a concern but not an actual threat. Answer lies in the economy. It is US' oil money which lets the saudis fund the fundamentalism, it is the US who is the Godfather of Taleban (uncomfortable truth comfortably forgotten in US). Is the US to be blamed for everything - certainly not but definitely it is also part of the problem.
So long as countries like Pakistan remain easily manipulated by US, the very institutions which US stands for will never take root. Any modern day society will not be sustainable without the democratic institutions. It becomes increasingly so in an Islamic state because religion messes up still more. Islam by definitions from various sources means submission - Submission to the will of God. It is quite uncomfortable for me to accept this as a great virtue. I like to question. I want to know more. I want to understand things from different point of views. I want to question all that is sacrosanct. And in many islamic countries that would be considered blasphemey and would merit a death sentence.
Why would God want someone to die just because one questioned God or beliefs in God? It beats me but then I should not expect reason when it comes to religion.
