The reason the United States is reluctant to support the democracy
movement in Pakistan is because it has reached certain understandings
with President General Pervez Musharraf on possible military action
against the Iranian nuclear programme, according to noted area expert
Selig Harrison, who recently returned form a week-long trip to Iran.
He said Pakistan is “already complicit” and is playing a role as “destabilisation activity” against Iran has been underway for some time through Pakistan and Afghanistan.
However, prevailing evidence does not substantiate this perspective. First, this is the US presidential election period where divergent viewpoints on America’s role in Iraq are uppermost. For America to take any military action in Iran, it would need fresh authorisation from a Democratic-controlled Congress, which is highly unlikely. Secondly, any military action will open a huge third front for which there is no public appetite in the country today because it could mean reinstatement of the hugely unpopular draft. Also, Iran has cards: namely Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as it has the ability to trigger actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The credibility of US policy in the Middle East already lies in tatters and the administration cannot possibly sell fresh military action in another theatre. Also, it should not be ignored that after nearly 30 years, the US and Iran have sat down together in Baghdad for face to face talks, in pursuance to the Iraq Study Group recommendations. Nor can it be ignored that Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff Scooter Libby has been convicted of perjury, further eroding the vice president’s authority and influence.
Harrison told Daily Times in an exclusive interview that Washington’s Pakistan policy is run from Vice President Dick Cheney’s office. There is a group in there which is pushing for a showdown with Iran, including military action, over its nuclear programme before the end of the Bush presidency. That could also become a basis for regime change in Tehran. The vice president attaches great importance to President Musharraf and it would appear that an understanding has been reached with him on Iran. The Cheney lobby is keen on destabilising Iran.
Harrison said Cheney’s last visit to Pakistan was Iran-related. Cheney also wanted to find out if there was more information to be gleaned from Dr AQ Khan on Iran’s nuclear programme and what assistance his network had rendered to it. The US is frustrated that it is not able to question Dr Khan direct and has to settle for information filtered through Gen Musharraf and Maj Gen Khalid Kidwai. The State Department is of the view that the US should recognise the significance of the present democracy movement in Pakistan and the sentiment behind it, but is inhibited by the vice president’s office to move in that direction, hence its recent “wishy-washy” statements on Pakistan. Many people in the State Department recognise that the people of Pakistan want military rule to end but are unable to have this assessment translated into the desired action.
Harrison said he deeply regrets this because democracy can only develop if democracy is enabled to take root. He expressed his “complete dismay” that the United States has failed to come out in support of pro-democracy forces in Pakistan. He added, however, that there are many in the US who fear what will follow Gen Musharraf, were he to leave the scene.
He said Pakistan is “already complicit” and is playing a role as “destabilisation activity” against Iran has been underway for some time through Pakistan and Afghanistan.
However, prevailing evidence does not substantiate this perspective. First, this is the US presidential election period where divergent viewpoints on America’s role in Iraq are uppermost. For America to take any military action in Iran, it would need fresh authorisation from a Democratic-controlled Congress, which is highly unlikely. Secondly, any military action will open a huge third front for which there is no public appetite in the country today because it could mean reinstatement of the hugely unpopular draft. Also, Iran has cards: namely Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as it has the ability to trigger actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The credibility of US policy in the Middle East already lies in tatters and the administration cannot possibly sell fresh military action in another theatre. Also, it should not be ignored that after nearly 30 years, the US and Iran have sat down together in Baghdad for face to face talks, in pursuance to the Iraq Study Group recommendations. Nor can it be ignored that Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff Scooter Libby has been convicted of perjury, further eroding the vice president’s authority and influence.
Harrison told Daily Times in an exclusive interview that Washington’s Pakistan policy is run from Vice President Dick Cheney’s office. There is a group in there which is pushing for a showdown with Iran, including military action, over its nuclear programme before the end of the Bush presidency. That could also become a basis for regime change in Tehran. The vice president attaches great importance to President Musharraf and it would appear that an understanding has been reached with him on Iran. The Cheney lobby is keen on destabilising Iran.
Harrison said Cheney’s last visit to Pakistan was Iran-related. Cheney also wanted to find out if there was more information to be gleaned from Dr AQ Khan on Iran’s nuclear programme and what assistance his network had rendered to it. The US is frustrated that it is not able to question Dr Khan direct and has to settle for information filtered through Gen Musharraf and Maj Gen Khalid Kidwai. The State Department is of the view that the US should recognise the significance of the present democracy movement in Pakistan and the sentiment behind it, but is inhibited by the vice president’s office to move in that direction, hence its recent “wishy-washy” statements on Pakistan. Many people in the State Department recognise that the people of Pakistan want military rule to end but are unable to have this assessment translated into the desired action.
Harrison said he deeply regrets this because democracy can only develop if democracy is enabled to take root. He expressed his “complete dismay” that the United States has failed to come out in support of pro-democracy forces in Pakistan. He added, however, that there are many in the US who fear what will follow Gen Musharraf, were he to leave the scene.
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