Ominous Stuff

I have long wondered how stable Pakistan’s secular regime truly is. I have always been told that the military is secular, and so there is nothing to fear. Ali Eteraz, a truly edifying voice among Jewcy’s arsenal of writers, says something different.

In his review of “Crossed Swords, ” Eteraz notes,

There are important lessons and warnings to be found in the text. For example, the immense number of generals appointed by former Islamist dictator Zia ul Haq — who seized the presidency from Benazir Bhutto’s father in a coup — have not yet taken hold of power. When they do, after the current group of leading generals resign in perhaps five to ten years, Pakistan’s famously secular military may be disposed to take an Islamist turn.

This is the man whom the U.S. chose to funnel–at his discretion–all of our aid to the mujahideen. To the exclusion, to a large degree, of the great Massoud, in stark contrast to the claim of “Charlie Wilson’s War.” Massoud, of course, was killed by Al-Qaeda…two days before 9/11.

I would be interested in hearing what Ali Eteraz has to say about Massoud.