OK, so, like, is Pakistan a blueprint for our future?

[ambitious_wench]

Martial law has been declared in Pakistan, dissidents arrested, independent news stations taken off the air, protests are being filmed by the "government", the chief justice has been removed from office and the constitution has been suspended all because Musharif says it's to stem the rise of Islamic militants.

Condi Rice basically has said "It's a shame it's necessary, and we support Musharif".

WTF?

History says every one of these things is inimical to democracy.

I can't help wonder if this is a testing ground for our own future; Will the current administration pull something along these lines just before a new president is sworn in?

Comments

[scascot.livejournal.com]

I doubt it.

[lpetrazickis.livejournal.com]

There actually is a civil war happenning in Pakistan, so martial law makes sense. Because the US abandoned Afghanistan, the resistance there became strong enough to take over parts of Pakistan, and they don't like Musharif for reasons other than lack of democracy. The bombs directed at Bhutto are just one symptom of that.

The likeliest nasty goodbye present from Bush would be an unwinnable war with Iran. He has the ability to order a martial law, but I don't see the US military obeying that for long.

[moxie_man]

He'd have to bring the troops home before he could try to enforce it.