#2 I'm waiting for John Frum's analysis, but it looks to this uninformed observer like the outcome of the Pakistani elections was better than anything we could have reasonably expected. The Islamists lost a lot of ground. Musharaf's party lost big but still has influence, and by not 'stealing' the election, they have retained/obtained some credibility. No party has dominant control, so the government will have to be a compromise of the parts - and that is a good thing. (Except it can give undue influence to small fringe groups if that's what it takes to get a coalition to critical mass - oops, scary analogy.) They won't be able to impeach Musharaf, but I should think they can replace him through normal channels in good time. And a measured, legal transition is a good thing. |