U.S. should be willing to prop up Musharraf

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 Pakistan is the international spotlight today because its arrest of Rashid Rauf led British intelligence and law enforcement to foil an alleged plot by Islamic militants to blow up as many as 10 airlines flying from Britain to the United States. But all that attention, and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's contention that the arrest demonstrates his country's key role in the fight against global terrorism, has undoubtedly put the nation in crosshairs of the militants. Considering that Musharraf has already been the target of three assassination attempts in recent years, the Bush administration would do well to keep a close watch over one of its key allies in the terror war. It is noteworthy that the 24 individuals arrested last week were all of Pakistani descent and that Rauf was a Briton who holds Pakistani citizenship. Following his capture by Pakistani forces, a telephone call was placed to the alleged plotters in Britain with the message that the bombing was to commence immediately. British intelligence intercepted the call and the government decided to move quickly to round up the alleged conspirators who had been under surveillance since December. Osama bin Laden It should come as no surprise that Pakistan figures so prominently in the whole issue of global terrorism. Islamic extremist factions have a great deal of influence in country, especially in the mountainous region where Osama bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida, and members of his inner circle are said to be holed up. The religious schools called madrassas are fertile soil for recruiting young militants, while the Pakistani intelligence service has long been accused of having agents sympathetic to al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations. And the attempt on Musharraf's life makes it clear that the government of Pakistan faces an uncertain future. Indeed, in January, the opposition Jamaat Islami, or Islamic Party, marshaled 60 volunteers to rebuild the village of Damadola, which a U.S. airstrike devastated Jan. 13 in a deadly missile attack. Thirteen civilians, including women and children, were killed. There were nationwide demonstrations in Pakistan against the United States and the Musharraf government. Legions of bin Laden supporters and members of Jamaat Islami, which has been accused of fomenting violence, took to the streets urging retaliation and the ouster of Musharraf. "This attacked has increased our hatred for Americans because they are killing innocent women and children," said one of the 5,000 demonstrators in Insyat Oala, a market town about three miles from Damadola. It is against this backdrop of religious extremism and anti-American and anti-Musharraf sentiment that the current crackdown on would-be bombers is taking place. There should be no doubt that the plotters of the airliner bombings are viewed as heroes by many in the Muslim world and that their arrest will not dissuade other potential terrorists. Given Pakistan's importance in this global war on terrorism — it is on the front line with the growing influence of Islamic extremists — the Bush administration should be ever vigilant to any weakening of Musharraf's position as president. The reason: His successor could well be someone sympathetic to individuals who want to bring more death and destruction to the United States and other western nations.