By: Mary Mostert, Analyst, Banner of Liberty (www.bannerofliberty.com)
September 20, 2001
Two very good friends, one in California and one in Utah sent me e-mails yesterday that perfectly illustrate the problem President Bush faces. The e-mails were statements made by Pakistan's two most respected leaders, its president, General Pervez Musharraf, , who has a son and a brother living in the United States and its chief religious leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmad. Musharraf, took control of the government in a rift over Kashmir in October 1999, and was sworn in as President June 20, 2001.Yesterday he put Pakistan firmly on the side of President Bush in the following statement:
I am Here to talk about the episode of terrorism that we have all witnessed in New York which involved 45 countries and people of all ages were Killed. (Some of) these were capable Pakistanis and I would like to convey my deep sympathy to their family members.America has 3 targets
* Osama Bin Laden (Al-Quaida Movement)
* Taliban
* International terrorismNow I shall share with you the kind of support that they expect from us.
1. Intelligence - Information exchange
2. Use of Air Space
3. logistic SupportNo operations plans are ready or available at the moment.
Their target from the beginning has been Osama bin Laden, and his movement. Their second target is the Talibaan. This has been their demand for many years - to bring Osama to trial. Now they have also announced a war against terrorism.
We do not have any details from the U.S of the exact nature of the support from us. But we do know that they have the support of the UN Security Council. The UN resolution specifies punishment for those committing terrorism. This has been supported by all the Islamic countries.
We in Pakistan are facing a very critical situation. Perhaps as critical as the events in 1971. If we make wrong decisions. (Editor's Note: In 1971war between India and Pakistan broke out; and Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan.)
I have discussed all this with my corps commanders, politicians and prominent Pakistanis. Tomorrow I am meeting the tribal chiefs. I have to say that opinions are divided, but the vast majority supports us. I would say that about 15% are tending towards emotional reactions.
Lets look at our neighbors. They have promised US all cooperation. They want to isolate us, get us declared a terrorist state.
They have met in Dushanbe with some other countries and plan to try and install anti Pakistani government in Afghanistan. So our neighbor is busy trying to harm us. If you see their television they are busy with propaganda against us.
I want to tell them to 'lay off'. Our forces are on full alert and ready for a do or die mission.
In this situation if we make the wrong decisions it can be very bad for us. Our critical concerns are our sovereignty, second our economy, third our strategic assets (nuclear and missiles), and forth our Kashmir cause. All four will be harmed if we make the wrong decision. When we make these decisions they must be according to Islam.
Its not a question of bravery or cowardice. But bravery without thinking is stupidity. Allah has said that he who has 'hikmat' has a huge blessing. We have to save our interests. Pakistan comes first, everything else is secondary.
Some 'ulema' (i.e. religious leaders) are trying to react on pure emotions. I want to remind them of Islam's early history. The moved from Mecca to Medina (hijrat). Was this (god forbid) cowardice? This was wisdom to save Islam.
Then when the Jews saw that Islam was getting stronger they started to conspire against the muslims. When the Prophet (PBUH) saw this happening he signed a no war pact with his enemies in Mecca. I want to remind you of that pact. At the end of the pact, where his signature was required, the Meccans demanded that he cannot sign it as "Prophet Mohammed". The Prophet (PBUH) agreed.
The Prophet explained later that its best for Islam, and it's the right thing to do. And time proved him right. Six months later there was a war with the Jews and the Meccans did not support the Jews and the Muslim forces won. And some time after that Mecca also fell to Islamic mujahideen.
Let me say that I am concerned about Afghanistan and the Talibaan. I have tried to convince world leaders not to impose sanctions on them in the past. I have tried my best, but sadly without much success.
In the present situation we have been trying to convince the Talibaan to be wise. We have also asked the US for evidence about Osama bin Laden. Also how do we best serve Afghanistan's interests? By going against the world community or by working with the international community. I am sure you will agree with me that we can only do the later.
I also know that there are people who are using this to promote their personal agendas. At this time, we have to be make sure that our enemies do not succeed in their designs to harm us. Pakistan is regarded as a fort of Islam. If this fort is damaged, islam will be damaged.
I ask you to trust me, like you trusted me when I went to Agra.
May Allah guide and protect us. Pakistan Zindabad
This letter, it seems to me, shows Musharraf to be a direct, pragmatic leader who has weighed the facts, the politics and the consequences and has made a decision he believes is best for Pakistan. However, the other letter written by Pakistan's chief "ulema", Qazi Hussain Ahmad, appears to simply dismiss the facts, which certainly overwhelmingly point to Osama bin Laden, and claims that somehow the attacks are Israel's, (read the Jews') fault.
So, in spite of the work of the FBI, which has identified 19 terrorists, all Muslims and all ENEMIES of Israel as the hijackers of the airplanes that were crashed into the Trade Center and the Pentagon, we are supposed to believe that somehow they were sent to do that by the State of Israel. I've gotten several other e-mails that have made the same accusation. The letter stated:
While every human being with a heart particularly those who consider themselves accountable before God for all their deeds was deeply hurt at the horrible scene of the destruction of WTC, the Muslims all over the world were taken aback when the blame was put on them by the Zionist controlled media of the United States without any evidence.Israel is the beneficiary of the shocking incidence. By diverting the attention from the atrocities being perpetrated against the innocent Palestinian families including small children and babies and diverting the emerging wrath of Americans and other western people towards the innocent Muslims living in the west, their mosques, their women and their small businesses, they are creating permanent hatred and barriers between the adherents of two great religions, Islam and Christianity.
The need of the hour is to stop this hysterical and emotional reaction and give deep thought to evolve ways and means for the solution of the problems of terrorism, extremism and intolerance. Also to eradicate poverty, injustice of all kinds and to establish human society of co-existence, tolerance, justice and love.
The people of Afghanistan and Pakistan are particularly worried because of the eminent threat of American military intervention. Such intervention in this region can plunge both the United States and the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan in a long drawn chaotic war-like situation. There are powers which want the U.S to be bogged down in a situation in which the Soviet Union was entangled during the struggle between the Afghan people and the Soviet Union.
Pervez Musharraf Government is a weak, temporary and unpopular Government, which will meet the same fate as the former communist regimes of Afghanistan who invited the Soviet Union into the Afghan territory.
Every thinking American must oppose the unjust and blind intervention of their government in Afghanistan. Tolerance, fortitude and wisdom is the need of the hour.
We can work together to achieve common goals. Our ultimate objective must be the establishment of a just, Universal, human society of co-existence, tolerance, mutual understanding and moderation. This can be done through joint struggle against injustices of all types.
Qazi Hussain Ahmad
Ahmad clearly expresses his religious bigotry by conveniently ignoring the fact that it wasn't Jews on those airplanes slitting the throats of women. It was Muslims. It was religiously fanatic Muslims who believed any means justify their end which is to destroy the Jews. That doesn't strike me as an example of co-existence, tolerance, mutual understanding and moderation. That sounds more like something Karl Marx, who believed religion was the opiate of the masses, once said.
To comment: mmostert@bannerofliberty.com