France has a better Middle East foreign policy than the Brits and Americans? I enjoyed reading this article for its quality of content and style.

From Cardinal de Richileu to Sarkozy, French rulers have professed the mantra of raison d'etre (national interest) more zealously than Americans & British.

However, the Americans are consistent in whatever they believe. Whether its Wilsonian idealism or Kissinger's realpolitik, the Americans were not ambivalent while they pursued each paradigm.

French behavior has often been ambivalent. In 1976, the French refused to sell a nuclear processing plant to Pakistan. This decision was inconsistent with French national interests, because Pakistan's nuclear program didn'nt threaten France. Pakistan subsequently decided not to purchase even conventional arms from France and chose China instead.

Imperialism and the Writing of History Rohit,

It is Indian historians and Bollywood that is guilty of historical revisionism. They portray tEast India Company as a bunch of thieves and murderers. And paint all Indians as patriots who were victims of intrigue & betrayal.

In reality, East India Company (EIC) only concerned itself with commerce and profit-making (which is what every business entity is supposed to do). It receiving trading permits from the Mughals. Since the rulers couldn't provide security for EIC employees, facilities and trade routes, the EIC was allowed to maintain a private security force.

Most Indian rajas, sultans and nawabs were tyrants who either usurped power through bloodshed or kept it by suppressing their populations. As they grew older or weaker, they faced challengers from within their courts as well as rival nawabs. At various junctures in this power struggle, rivals sought the help of East India Company.

The EIC was dragged into power struggles and internal politics by power hungry nawabs and aspiring viziers.

Why did India produce so many Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs?
What circumstances induced these powerful men to betray their nawabs? Labeling them as evil is convenient but does not address the underlying flaws in the pre-colonial system.

Old Wine, Still Older Bottles Babar,
People filled the streets in protest when a genuine political crisis occured when CJ was suspended. But they don't care for the anti-Musharraf agenda of some politicians or anti-Army wet dreams of our neighbors.

Instead of being disappointed at the Supreme Court or the awam, Musharraf's adversaries should prepare themselves for facing the public at the polls.

There are big questions to be answered...

Why did Nawaz make a deal to get out of Pakistan, and then deny it just to get back??

Why did Mullahs waste 5 precious years ranting about Shariah instead of creating more jobs and improving governance in NWFP??

Why did Baloch sardars oppose development projects with terrorism instead of voicing their concerns through democratic means??

Why did extremist elements abduct and beat people who didn't quite agree with their narrowminded religious preferences??

Mushy made many mistakes (e.g. May 12th incident, CJ dismissal, etc) in his 8 year rule but he also achieved remarkable feats for the people in his rule. People are not yet ready to throw him out by the cuff. The man deserves a fair chance to continue as a civilian president, if the parliament elects him on Oct 6.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #300 mohar11

Indira was no champion of democracy (remember the 1975 Emergency?) and no friend of people of Pakistan either. Just like Israel seeks a weak Lebanon to its north, India seeks a weak Pakistan to its west. Indira came close to this goal in '71 but underestimated the resilience and resolve of the Pakistani people in preventing Hindu hegemony in the subcontinent.

Remember it was a civilian, Z.A.Bhutto, and not an army general who launched Pakistan's nuclear program in response to 1974 Pokhran tests with the words "We will build the bomb even if we have to eat grass"?

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #296 masadi

The effects of progress are visible on the streets of not only the major cities, but even the villages and smaller towns where people have reaped the benefits of real estate boom, telecomm revolution, rising incomes and unprecedented growth in services sector.

Pakistan's economic upturn is a fact, dear. Refusing to acknowledge what govt as well as independent analysts have confirmed only points to your prejudice and/or lack of objectivity.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #300 mohar11

You Hindus need to learn lessons of history yourself before you can lecture anybody else.

Your "one phone call changed it all" fairy tale won't fly here. Most people here already know that Pakistan's relations with Taliban were soured after destruction of Buddhas & protection of Sunni militants by Mullah Omar. That all mainstream political parties and newspapers welcomed the U-turn in Pakistan's afghan policy is a well-known, well-documented fact that for some reason has failed to penetrate thick-headed types like yourself.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #257 hamidm2

If Mushy removes his uniform by end of '07, that itself would be a monumental concession to civil society & politicians. Except for Qazi, Nawaz Sharif and Balochi sardars... none of the other Pakistani politicians and lawyers have any personal grudge against Mushy. They just want him to follow the rules and level the playing field for everyone...

And Mushy hasn't been a bad ruler as such. His economic performance has been stellar. He had liberalized media and Pakistan society to a great extent. And has handled the aftermath of 9/11 very deftly. If he can relegate himself to the position of a constitutional president, he can ensure the stability of his reforms and gain broader support against terrorist elements.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #252

"this can't be that far-fetched... :) "

That depends on who is holding the crystal ball. If she believed in democracy, she would've given Kashmiris the plebiscite her dad promised first. Indira didn't get a rat's rear about democracy in Pakistan. She attacked East Pak only to avenge her father's defeat at the hands of Jinnah. In her first speech after the war, she said the "Two-Nation Theory" has drowned in bay of bengal. That kind of sums up her motivation for the war.

Handing AQ Khan to US, Indira establishing democracy in Pakistan, foreign powers de-nuking pakistan, etc... Can you Indians ever discuss anything without daydreaming?

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #248 hamidm2

If we ignore the lawyers' movement, then Mushy's re-election seems like a foregone conclusion. Fazlur Rehman probably knows the NWFP resignations will hurt MMA more than Mushy.

But Imran, Nawaz and Qazi have exerted enormous pressure on Fazl to resign. They are probably banking on a stiff agitation from the Black Coats.

This is a big gamble for the Mullahs. They only have 1 week to launch a national agitation against Mushy. If this move fizzles out, Mushy will strike a comfortable deal (on his terms) with BB and boot the Mullahs out of power in NWFP.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #246 mohar11

"because paki nukes may not last long..."

Pandit Nehru predicted Pakistan wouldn't last long than 10 years. Turns out Pakistan is now so strong, India needs American help to persuade Pakistan to not fire across LoC.

You are not using Pandit ji's crystal ball, are you?

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: HP

"I don’t know how you could say that Pakistani will accept him as President without the wardi."

FYI, PPP will accept Mushy as pres without wardi. PML-Q will accept him anyway. And these two parties do represent 60% of public opinion in Pakistan.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #233

The SC judgement may be politically incorrect, but it is in accordance with the constitution. Judges can't change the constitution. That's the parliament's job.

Now the action shifts to NWFP. Likely scenario...

MMA resigns its seats and CM Akram Durrani advises Governor Orakzai (Mushy's man) to dissolve NWFP assembly. Orakzai delays dissolution by a week to allow Mushy to "horse trade" some of the MMA MPAs. In the meantime, Law Minister Sher Afgan finds a way to hold Presidential election without NWFP assembly. Mullahs launch a movement across NWFP in tandem with PML-N/Imran Khan movement in Punjab (which fizzles out). Mushy manages to win presidential election on October 6th.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #129

Corruption and politics are bed fellows in every country of the world. In Pakistan this problem is more acute, but the actual number of perpetrators is small. Get rid of Ch.Pervez and Ch.Shujaat, and half your corruption problem is solved.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #130 laddu

If wishes were horses, your Hindu ancestors would have been riding over the plains of Pakistan 60 years ago.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #124 Urstruly

You are bang on target with your comments on military power and people power. The kind of debate we see in Pakistan today is a very positive step in that direction.

However, the Army size is an Indian's issue. It is not a Pakistani issue. Army rule is the Pakistani issue and this issue can easily be resolved if the politicians don't fall for Mushy's divide-and-rule tactics. If Fazlur Rehman had left the NWFP & Baluchistan govt, the "Musharraf wardi" would have been resolved 3 years ago.

Musharraf the Out-smarter re: #83

Pak Army is strong enough to prevent the Hindu wet dream of hoisting the tiranga in Islamabad. The failed 2002 mobilisation by India adequately proved that. Not only did we use your mosted wanted list as toilet paper, the number of Jihadi attacks inside India proper actually increased.