Jum'ah Journal

Listening to the American opinions we see two opposite sides 1. Support Musharraf for he has done well and alternative is unacceptable because it is Al-Qaeda-Fundamentalist Islamic etc. 2. Musharraf has done damage, he is not fighting terrorists he is fighting Judiciary and dragging Lawyers putting them behind bars and not moving towards Democracy at all. Get him out and let the People of Pakistan get a chance. I fear there is that McArthyism underpinnings. They want to advance" democracy" at all costs even if it requires supporting dictators. There is presumption that if Musharraf is removed his type of 'iron hand' may be difficult to find in 'civilians (No matter what Bhutto says). There is widespread covering up of truth with all kinds of lies in the world today and the people think they can all get by without the lies being exposed (Not realizing or even knowing that they are so thinly veiled). Is the philosophy of using brute force to suppress extremism the right thing? Has any thought been given to sitting on the table, sorting out differences? Have Ulama of Pakistan any opinion about how to engage in dialogue? Have all the consequences of this military advancement on our own people considered? We have experience of fighting our East Pakistani brothers, dont we learn from mistakes? America uses brute force for everything because they have the force and power and are prepared to spend for it as long as they are in control. Why should Pakistan follow that philosophy? What do they have, other than "kashkol"? Just think of it. Extremist idiologies have been affecting Muslims from the very beginning, but they all die out given time. I know Ali , May God be pleased with him, dealt with the Kharjiyah and lost his life to them but he first sent the best faqeeh of his times to argue with them and resorted to fighting only when all alternatives were exhausted. Unfortunately Muslims have been plagued with such extremists throughout their history. Admittedly this is a difficult situation but what I see is that non-Muslim forces utilize Muslim divisions to their advantage. I am just a concerned Muslim and a concerned Pakistani-American. I know that majority of Ulama are intelligent reasonable sophisticated individuals and can argue with the extremists in better ways. I dont know why they dont come forward? Are they scared too?