What to do about Pakistan?

Re “Pakistani police arrest hundreds in crackdown,” Nov. 5

In 1999, Gen. Pervez Musharraf overthrew a democratically elected government in Pakistan, and, in return, Washington showered him with billions of dollars in aid. Most recently, in March, this dictator outrageously fired the chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, but Washington looked the other way.

And finally, in one of the blackest days in Pakistan’s history, Musharraf declared emergency rule as the Supreme Court was hearing arguments on his eligibility in the next presidential election.

Why is it that the U.S. continues to maintain a double standard? Why is it that the most preeminent example of democracy in the world supports brutal dictators?

I am a loyal, patriotic and proud citizen of the United States. But today, I am ashamed of what we stand for in the world.

Junaid Sulahry

Winston-Salem, N.C.

The shortsighted decision of the U.S. government to continue to bankroll an unpopular and illegal dictatorship in Pakistan could very well backfire.

Living under a dictatorship leads people to desperation, and it is not unlikely that an Afghanistan-like situation could erupt in Pakistan if Musharraf continues to stay in power.

A much more strategically wise decision would have been to block all aid and impose sanctions on Musharraf’s martial law regime until it collapsed and democracy was restored. Not only would that win the U.S. friends among the Pakistani population and further the cause of democracy in the country, it would also serve U.S. strategic interests in the region.

Haider Ghaznavi

Chicago

Musharraf institutes extraordinary measures to counter the rise of Islamic extremism in Pakistan, and the U.S. threatens to suspend aid. Isn’t that akin to offering aid and comfort to Islamic terrorists embedded in Pakistan? Maybe the frothing advocates of sanctions against Pakistan have changed sides in the war on terror, or is it just politics as usual?

Jack Bailey

Studio City

Pakistan: Another victory in Bush’s war on democracy.

Larry Markes

Hollywood