Musical Chairs

In the interest of democracy and promoting a free judiciary, General Pervez Musharraf after arresting and imprisoning all his political opposition and judges, decided to step down as cheif of the Army last week. The media would have you believe that it was a good day for American strong arm diplomacy and that American pressure has saved the day for Pakistani democracy, sadly theres as much truth to that as an American politician selling "No New Taxes".

Musharraf stepped down as army chief the eve before he was to be sworn in as president of pakistan for yet another term. The U.S pressured Musharraf to appoint General Kiyani, another pro-American General willing to tow the wests line, as the new Chief of Army Staff. The current scenario has allowed Musharraf to use the Army to bully his way to power once more but strip the uniform to take office as a civilian hence keeping the veneer of a democratic government intact.

There has also been speculation that the U.S plans on Backing former ousted Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, who has promised the U.S Military greater access into Pakistan (contrary to the Pakistani publics wishe) in exchange for another chance to get into office and to rob the country blind as she's accused of doing in her last term.

Meanwhile the fundamentalists are now beginning to be joined by regular Pakistani's who until now had never thought of doing anything militant but have grown tired of outside interference and military rule in their country. a recent stream of bomb blasts and attacks against the military, along with widespread protests int he country against the military, some of them violent, drive home the fact that the Pakistani people have had enough.