Democracy Must Be Regained Here So We Can Help It Return Abroad

Standing up for a rule of law has brought about confrontation with General Musharraf in Pakistan, but the outbreak of popular revolt against his dictatorship will not end. In Burma/Myanmar, the same kind of military autocracy has met with popular revolts as well.

Here in the U.S., the popular revolt is expressed in increasing revulsion for the dictatorial overthrow of laws written by congressional representatives of the people. The torture of its enemies is administrative misuse of power that is universally rejected by the American people.

Trying to ally itself with dictatorships like Musharraf's is one of many indications that the occupied White House's verbal support of democracy is only pro forma posturing. That Musharraf has broken from all democratic restraints on its powers only confirms what critics have pointed out all along, that the General was determined to keep his presidency no matter what the cost to Pakistan.


It's pretty heartening, as a member of the opposition that the cabal is blaming for strengthening terrorism, to see that the call for freedom is still strong even in other countries dominated by military extremists.

In Burma, the leader of rebel monks speaks out in today's op-ed columns in WaPo.

In August, the Burmese people began to write a new chapter in their determination to find peace and freedom. Burmese monks peacefully protested to bring change to our long-suffering country. As we marched, hundreds of thousands of Burmese and our ethnic cousins joined us to reinforce our collective demand: that military rule finally give way to the people's desire for democracy.

Video and the Internet have allowed the world to witness the brutal response directed by Gen. Than Shwe, Burma's de facto ruler and military leader. Than Shwe unleashed his soldiers and the regime's thugs, who attacked us. Once again the streets in Rangoon and Mandalay ran red with the blood of innocent civilians seeking to save our country from the moral, social, political and economic crises that consume us.
(snip)
Than Shwe and his fellow military leaders have sought to portray this uprising as a singular event, now over. A veneer of quiet has replaced the sounds of gunfire on city streets. Unfortunately, many in the international community buy in and actively support this propaganda.

At the United Nations, China and Russia continue to block the Security Council from facilitating a dialogue between democratic forces and the regime. Within our region, senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have condemned the regime's actions but have done little else. Perhaps most disappointing, the world's largest democracy, India, continues to provide military assistance and trade deals that help finance the regime's war on its people.

In Pakistan, Supreme Court Justice Chaudry has gone to prison for his insistence on his country's rights. Now all of the justices are under house arrest while Musharraf takes the expediency of brute power to deny his country the right to vote him out.

I hear many blogging that they are afraid that our cretin in chief, who has gained the highest office by misrepresentations of his intentions and outright lies, will try to keep power at the end of his term. Some of us have already begun taking to the streets to express opposition. I am convinced that the military would not allow the proven incompetent to continue in power, but I am ready to resist that by what means I can. For now, it is this blog.

From me to the people of Pakistan, Burma, an the other lands where power is kept by force in the hands of criminals, we're with you. When the people regain control in this country, we will help you once again in the cause of freedom.