Seems there was another (is that fourth in number since acquiescing to 'assist' in routing terrorism?) attempt on the life of Pakistan's General Pervez Musharraf. He's got problems, that man. The forces of nature are against him with floods and landslides and how to respond effectively to that disaster, while he's trying to deal somewhat sensitively to the onslaught of jihadist-crazed Islamists in Islamabad.
This man has got to have eyes everywhere, including the back of his head. Government forces are still battling the Lal Masjid followers, have them under siege, caught one of the two heads of the mosque, masquerading as a woman in full burqa, the other still installed with a still-large number of rabid fanatics. In the basement of the mosque, it is said, with 20 women and a number of children.
Mosque students are playing religiously righteous war games and having the time of their lives, opening fire on troops, hurling hand grenades. They're playing serious war games here, because they've been inspired by a dire need to do the will of Allah. Meanwhile, government security forces used explosives to bring down a wall surrounding the mosque-school complex.
Heavy gunfire and blasts are heard while armoured personnel carriers move ever closer to concluding the siege, waiting for the final word to proceed from a nervous General Musharraf who fears a backlash should too many deaths and injuries ensue from the last stand. The Interior Minister claimed there were up to 60 "hardcore" militants in the building, with AK 47s, grenades, and petrol bombs.
And that the militants are holding women and children virtual prisoners alongside themselves, not allowing them to leave. Dastardly villains. Doubt it. Rather, those women and children may just represent committed followers, unwilling to leave their courageous infidel-battling menfolk. What else to expect from a government news-briefing, than propaganda. Effective too, at instilling fear and loathing in the populace.
Who will, as a result, be complicit in the final assault on the complex, and accepting of the inevitability of casualties and deaths, even among women and children. On the other hand, what can the government do but deal with these lunatic insurgents as they must? These are terrorists, they've engaged in kidnappings, their intent is to spread fear and dissent in the population with the ultimate aim of bringing an Islamist government to power in Pakistan.
Their vigilante actions and morbid morality in the capital has been unsettling to say the leas; unlawful and frightful. While General Musharraf unequivocally stresses the objective need that Pakistan follow the path of moderation, enshrining a secular governance in that most populous of Muslim countries.
Extremism breeding terrorism is the scourge of any civilized country, those who aspire to a greater place in the community of nations in this world, to prosper and to bring order and freedom to their people.
Labels: Troublespots, World Crises
posted by Pieface @ Friday, July 06, 2007
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