With Allies Like This...

Faced with the possibility of the Supreme Court telling him he could not legally hold power, Musharraf did the only thing a democratic leader could do: He declared martial law.

Musharraf came to power in 1999 in a coup. He's maintained his position as the head of the Pakistan Army while President, a point of constant legal controversy. He swore that if reelected this time around, he would finally resign his army position.

That wasn't quite enough for the opposition, and a challenge was brought to the Supreme Court. Was it constitutionally legal for Musharraf to be elected while serving as the head of the army? The answer was widely seen as "no," but with Musharraf's history of not respecting the judicial branch no one hurried to say so.

At first the court pushed off the decision, but then back pedalled and were about to make the call, when Musharraf cut them off, suspending constitutional rule and removing Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry from his post as Chief Justice for a second time. Lawyers across the country were successful in staging protests last time, but Musharraf has been arresting and beating them by the hundreds.

One government official told the press 1500 to 1800 people have been detained nationwide. Supreme Court justices who would not swear allegience to Musharraf's new court are under house arrest and other "pressure," according to one justice who refused to join the new court. Prominent critics of Musharraf are also under house arrest, from Islamist groups to the chairman of the Human Rights Commision of Pakistan.

The Netherlands were the first to suspend aid to Pakistan in light of new events. The British are examining their aid package, but the United States has done little more than voice concern. Aid from the leader of the Free World will continue to flow to the new police state without a hiccup, so the anti-terror operations can continue uninterrupted.

NPR
BBC

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Personally, I don't see the benefit in being safe from the terrorists if we have to allow the world's nations to be ruled by dictators. The wrongs we are tolerating from our "allies" in the "war on terror" are shameful, and so much worse than any bomb, or multiple bombs, that could ever land on our shores.

The rule of law. Civil liberties. Freedom to criticize the government. Separation of powers. Transparency. A nation based on a constitution, not a man's whim. These are the things that make a nation worth living in, worth dying for. These are what constitute a free state.

The United States of America is yet again supporting a dictator who abuses his people, and calls on Abraham Lincoln for justification. The United States of America is placing a greater value on fighting terror than on the principles of our nation. The United States of America is taking its eye off the ball because of fear, and the United States of America should be ashamed of itself.

Excuse me while I drop my Congressman and Senators a line.