President Bush will continue to fail in his war against terrorism unless he confronts the truth. Some of his allies in this war had earlier abetted terrorism. As prisoners of the past, they cannot be effective. Consider the case of South Asia.
The Bush administration evaluates governments. It should focus primarily on transnational lobbies. Both India and Pakistan have movements that perpetuate Indo-Pak hatred. The Kaluchak killings and the Gujarat riots brought similar results. They prevent Indo-Pakistan peace. The perpetrators in both Kashmir and Gujarat, knowingly or unknowingly, serve the same master. So who is the master? It's not a nation. It's a lobby. To recognise it, identify the beneficiaries. They are Israel's hawks and China's PLA. The Israelis are promoting a Hindu India irreconcilably hostile to Pakistan. That serves Israel's perceived security interests in West Asia. The Sangh parivar has also never hidden its unquestioning admiration for Israel.
The Chinese are prolonging Indo-Pak hostilities. That consolidates their domination of Asia. The Pakistan army and isi openly acknowledge their unswerving commitment to China. The ISI and VHP are bitter opponents. Yet both befriend China.
Israel and China enjoy close cooperation. The Chinese-Israeli lobby's clout inside USA is significant. Is that why Bush seems helpless against Israel's Sharon and Pakistan's ISI?Originally, Musharraf was a favourite of China. Compulsions made him a pro-American turncoat. How can he now tame the fundamentalists he himself created?
Advani is a favourite of Israel. He helped create the Hindutva brigade. To become prime minister material, Advani must appear liberal. But how can he tame the Hindutva hardcore he himself created?
Wars against terrorism cannot succeed until the sources funding terrorism are unearthed. The same sources fund much of politics. The same sources penetrate respectable business establishments. Regardless of skeletons tumbling out of VIP cupboards, dare Bush expose these sources all over the world? If not, he may as well give up the war.
Populism is quick and cheap,
So do look before you leap!
Declaring war on terror was easy,
It's the follow-up that's really queasy!
