REMINDER: MILITARY RULE IN PAKISTAN IS NOT UNUSUAL

Many folks are all hysterical because Musharraf has declared a state of emergency in Pakistan and elections -which were slated for January - MAY BE DELAYED.

RELAX.

Pakistan has been ruled by military juntas FOR MOST OF ITS EXISTENCE.

And there should be NO DOUBT that Pakistan is now under the GRAVEST THREAT TO ITS EXISTENCE EVER. Musharraf should have declared this EMERGENCY back when he liberated the Red Mosque. Or right after Bhutto came back.

But he waited until he had to: his hand was forced by political opponents (in the Pakistani Supreme Court) who thought they could exploit the current crisis into one which would hurt Musharraf's chances at holding on to the presidency.

Bhutto was wrong to return as soon as she did. Musharraf warned her NOT to return - that it would be DESTABILIZING. He was right. She came back anyway and made the situation WORSE.

A strong military rule of Pakistan is needed now and might be needed until they defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban.

If the opposition there was more focused on jihadists and less on Musharraf then this wouldn't have happened.

YES, IT IS SAD THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS: Musharraf is arresting activist-political opponents - OPPONENTS WHO HAVE PROTESTED HIS RULE MORE ACTIVELY THAN THE JIHADISTS!

But his opposition is not unlike Bush's on the extreme Left: they want domestic power more than domestic tranquility or victory over jihadism.

AND THAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING; IT AIDS THE JIHADISTS: THERE IN PAKISTAN AND HERE.

Ans make no mistake about it: the enemy is making Pakistan the central front in WW4; We must stand by and support Musharraf.