Games Politicians Play

No, this is not about Senator Larry Craig and his rest room shenanigans – not those kinds of games. This is far more serious. President Musharaf of Pakistan is actively maneuvering to install his wife, Selba Musharaf, as the next President of Pakistan.

The self styled ‘benevolent’ dictator has not been suddenly overcome by an outpouring of spousal affection and regard. If he had his way, he would like to be President-for-Life; but he sees the writing on the wall. For a while, he managed to keep Pakistan’s silent majority on his side by getting the country’s basket-case economy back on track – thanks largely to the infusion of billions of American dollars in aid, generously provided by his good friend George Bush. But it’s a funny thing about a country’s middle-class; once their primary needs are met, they start hankering for democracy and the opportunity to manage their own affairs. Now that the Pakistan economy has, more or less, begun to sustain itself, they no longer need to be dependent on American largesse – or Musharaf.

Another smaller – but much more vociferous and dangerous – block that Musharaf needed to cultivate was the Islamic fundamentalists. He had a dilemma, though. His patron across the ocean was pressurizing him to destroy them. It did not take him long to figure out a strategy. He covertly supported the fundamentalists – or, at best, turned a blind eye to their activities. At the same time, he took pains to occasionally - and publicly - round up or kill a few ‘token’ Al Qaeda terrorists to keep the Bush administration happy. In recent months, however, the he was forced by the US to turn the heat on the fundamentalists – and now they hate his guts too. Moreover, it has become politically inconvenient for the Bush administration to openly support a dictator who blatantly violates his country’s Constitution.

So now, the good general has no friends; and is up the creek without a paddle. So he is maneuvering to rule by proxy. Of course, Selma Musharaf does not have a hope un hell of getting elected in a free and fair poll; not surprising since she has no political qualifications whatsoever. But who said elections have to be free and fair? Ask Kim Jong Il. Besides, he can rely on active, if covert, support from George Bush.

Whoa! Isn’t this the same George Bush who is the guiding light of the free world; who invaded Iraq to make the world ‘safe for democracy’? You can draw your own conclusions.

What’s next? Laura Bush for President? Come to think of it, it may be the lesser of two evils.