Can the people overthrow a modern dictatorship complete with all the trappings of modern military killing power? Is it in Musharraf's power to arrest or kill all of his myriad enemies in Parliament?
The outcome of this internal struggle between tyranny and freedom is not a new one, but this struggle in this time is something never seen before. It has always been possible with enough unrest to unseat anyone human being from power. Today, technology may have finally made despots immune against all but military mutiny.
Several times Musharraf has faced loss of his power and each time the tyrant viciously held on to power while attacking democracy.
The first was when then Prime Minister Sharif sought to oust Musharraf from his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pakistani military (the highest military position in the nation).
How does Musharraf respond to this threat against his power? A military coup, overthrowing the democratically elected PM Sharif simply because he had the power to do so.
Musharraf's next move was to appoint himself President of Pakistan in 2001. Think about that statement for a moment. The man who controls the military of Pakistan appoints himself president. And why shouldn't he since the former president obviously held no actual power over the Pakistani military.
In 2003 he pledged to end his rule and restore civilian government only to renounce that pledge a year later when his time was over.
March 9th, 2007 Musharraf suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry whom had stated that Musharraf's continued reign was unconstitutional.
Later that year he tried to meet with Bhutto to arrange a power-sharing agreement with her ahead of elections. She imposes conditions (a possibly lethal move) which required him to step-down as head of the army.
Sharif tried to return from exile (the Prime Minister kicked out during the 1999 coup) but is arrested and shipped to Saudi Arabia.
Bhutto comes back to Pakistan and immediately is attacked an nearly killed.
Musharraf declared a State of Emergency, declared martial law, arrested political adversaries and lawyers across the nation. Suspended the media.
Bhutto was then assassinated.
Musharraf has shown repeatedly that he will do anything to hold onto power. The key for the rest of the world is how does the Pakistani intelligentsia respond? What about the masses within Pakistan? Will Western citizens behave the same way?
So far the people have not openly revolted against Musharraff. There have not been wide upheavals in the country. When he faces a political opponent his simply kills, imprisons, or exiles them. International pressure is non-existant because Bush is a strong supporter of his.
Think about that a moment. The same President who preaches that Democracy is the holy grail in foreign affairs props up the most anti-democratic regimes in the world.
How do you think the American people would respond to a sudden suspension of the Constitution to combat terrorism? Is there really anything that can be done?
My suspicion is that America is not immune to an open-despot just as Pakistan was not immune. Musharraff has shown how it can be done in Pakistan and it may be a blueprint of how it can be done everywhere.
Now the Pakistani parliament will finally take measures to impeach Musharraf. Let's hope he is held accountable but looking at recent history it is highly unlikely.
If Bush were impeached would members of Congress have to fear for their personal safety? Is it so hard to believe that we will not impeach Bush because when faced with the prospect of being convicted of war crimes etc. he would do the unthinkable and arrest members of congress. Kill members of Congress. Establish martial law. Suspend the constitution.
And who would stop him? You?