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Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf

by Steven D
Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 12:00:58 PM EST

Makes me feel so secure to know that President Musharraf of Pakistan has apparently managed to fend off a coup attempt from Islamist military officers, this time:

KARACHI - A plot to stage a coup against Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf soon after his recent return from the US has been uncovered, resulting in the arrest of more than 40 people.
Most of those arrested are middle-ranking Pakistani Air Force officers, while civilian arrests include a son of a serving brigadier in the army. All of those arrested are Islamists, contacts in Rawalpindi, where the military is based, divulged to Asia Times Online. The conspiracy was discovered through the naivety of an air force officer who this month used a cell phone to activate a high-tech rocket aimed at the president's residence in Rawalpindi. The rocket was recovered, and its activating mechanism revealed the officer's telephone number. His arrest led to the other arrests.
Other rockets were then recovered from various high security zones, including the headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Islamabad.
According to Asia Times Online sources, more arrests can be expected, both military and civilian.

Must be fun to have officers under your command targeting rockets at your home, eh President Musharraf? But you know what's even more fun? When you realize that if these rebellious officers had succeeded, Pakistan's nuclear tipped missiles would be in the hands of militants who are quite friendly with the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and who don't much care for America or Americans.

Sooner or later, Musharraf is going down. His policy of sucking on the US teat isn't wearing well with the more radical elements of his own military. What has the Bush adminsitration done to prepare for that eventuality? My guess: nada.

Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (4.00 / 2)

Pakistan's nuclear tipped missiles would be in the hands of militants who are quite friendly with the Taliban and Al Qaeda,

What has the Bush adminsitration done to prepare for that eventuality? My guess: nada.

This is indeed the nightmare scenario. Now I am no fan of George Bush, but what can anyone do with such a threat?? Personally, I see little clear options that would work out well for teh US. What would the author do if this hostile-type overthrow happened??

by NG on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 12:43:33 PM EST

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (4.00 / 2)

If Musharraf is toppled we need a strategy in place for how to deal with the new regime which is likely to be hostile to the US. I don't know what that strategy should be, but I'm sure people like Larry Johnson and Pat Lang or Jeff Huber (all of whom have in the past, and/or continue to post here) might have some ideas. My fear is that Bush and his political appointees at State and Defense haven't done their homework, and aren't prepared to deal with a post-Musharraf regime. Just like they weren't prepared for the occupation of Iraq.

Obama is a Patriot

by Steven D on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 12:50:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (none / 0)

The only thing TO do is to immediately stop the juggernaut that we have started in the third world by radically reforming our economic policies, our overt/covert military tactics and our overall economic imperialist strategy so that we are no longer PERCEIVED as a threat to these people....and hope that we did it soon enough to avert nuclear war.

And you know what?

I do not think that this is going to happen.

Of all the presidential candidates only Feingold and perhaps Gore are free enough of political debts to the establishment to be ABLE to chart such a course, and it is establishment debt that GETS a president elected here today.

There is also an outside chance that the Dems will win control of the Senate after November, which would give pause to our enemies if it immediately resulted in some (Also unlikely no matter who wins what) serious movement toward impeachment and reform.

But short of those things coming to pass...and I make book at about 100 to 1 that ANY of them will do so...we have to rely on the mercy of whatever forces have prevented an attack of monstrous proportions so far.

I have asked this question before, and I will ask it again.

Why on 9/11 did the pilots of those planes...ALL those planes...not drop them on the Indian Point nuclear plant on the banks of the Hudson River about 30 miles north of NYC?

Is there a God moderating the folly of His people?

Was it a tactical decision in light of the need for a continuing America if the world economy is not to crumble?

Is the (unofficial, covert but VERY real) word out that if something of the sort does happen, the US will simply nuke the capitals of the major Islamic states? Blow Mecca off the face of the earth? Roll the dice; start W.W III in earnest and whoever is left standing wins?

Sheer accident?

I do not know.

But I do know this.

Whatever has stopped a real WMD attack from happening, the longer this madness continues the more likely it is that it WILL happen.

Cheney will be safe in his little bunker.

And we will be in a state of emergency the likes of which has never been seen on earth.

Bet on it.

Let us pray, as we sleepwalk through this latest and most serious Valley of Death.

Let us pray, and let us fight with whatever peaceful weapons we have at our command.

Peace...

AG

Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.-Mae West

by Arthur Gilroy (arthurgilroy<at>earthlink.net) on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 02:04:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (4.00 / 2)

I'm surprised that Musharaf has lasted this long. He and the US have to be placating the ISI somehow. I wonder if the reference to middle level officers being involved is due to the higher ups being too powerful to go after or an indication that the the higher ups are being bought off in some way. (Probably supporting their position against India.) I'm certain that at least some elements of the ISI are protecting Bin Laden and other Islamists.
Musharef and Pakistan are not the most stable of allies for an adventurous US foreign policy. But I suspect that India is more threatened than the US if, and when, Musharef falls to an openly Islamist opposition.

by Teach313 (teachSKIP313ATmacDOTcom) on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 12:57:31 PM EST

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (4.00 / 2)

I have the feeling we're about two dominoes away from an unraveling that we can neither predict nor control. If Musharraf goes down I'm afraid the entire house of cards that passes for our Middle East policy will come down with him.

Have I ever told you about my poor memory?

by ignorant bystander on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 01:14:43 PM EST

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (none / 0)

Also in orange

Obama is a Patriot

by Steven D on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 12:11:42 PM EST

Re: Coup in Pakistan (none / 0)

The crazy thing about the US-UK Iraq war is that neither governments put themselves in the perspective of Muslims being invaded by foreign Overlords. Yet, both countries have histories replete with lessons on how and how not to conduct successful occupations.

The instability of nuclear armed Pakistan is just one of the explicit consequences of a Christian Invasion that was clearly seen prior to the commencement of the kick ass Holy War. Three years have past; yet, the Baker Commission still puts forth the Stability Option with Christian Occupation as being viable if the USA just kicks ass harder. Never broadcast is the requirement for millions of American boys and girls on the ground, the Draft, and Exorbitant Taxes to pay for a successful occupation of the middle east oil fields.

by Jim S on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 01:46:32 PM EST

Re: Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf (none / 0)

According to this article the plot was not actually a coup attempt, but more of a congregation of Islamists both within and outside the Pakistani armed forces. Still, I would treat such denials with certain scepticism since by admitting that a coup was attempted, Musharraf would also admit that he has little control over his armed forces.

Bitsofnews.com Giving you the latest bits.

by Gjermun E Jansen (gjans1@hotmail.com) on Sat Oct 14th, 2006 at 02:01:00 PM EST

Coup in Pakistan Foiled by Musharraf | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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