The Conception Pains of Democracy

Condy Rice considered Iraq to be undergoing the "birth pangs" of democracy when referring to the impregnation of Iraq by more than one hundred thousand soldiers. Soldiers who were asked not just to impregnate but also to play midwife to the birth. When their midwifery skills couldn't deliver a healthy baby a surge[on] was called in. Before Bush/McCain get carried away with prematurely celebrating the blossoming of a democratic baby on the banks of the Euphrates they should stop and ponder that the nutrients that this flower feeds on is composed of the remains of the hundreds of thousands killed by a criminal invasion.

So much for the birth pangs of democracy but democracy is not a word that should be used lightly. Civilization has paid a heavy price for achieving it, what is being forced upon Iraq is better described as "Democramy" - Cramming democracy down the throats of people you don't know and don't understand, with a toilet plunger.

Examining the "democratic" process in Pakistan, Rice's phrase "birth pangs" of democracy turns into "conception pains" of democracy. Musharraf, in all likelihood, would still be at the head of an autocratic government but for his rape of the Constitution of Pakistan as he, fearing the end of his rule, "fired" the judiciary of Pakistan.

While the lawyers movement in Pakistan was on course to bring a civilized democracy to Pakistan, what has now emerged is the unforseen metoric rise of Asif Zardari. Zardari’s election by a landslide through the legislative electoral college should not be construed as a nationwide referundum of his popularity. The widely held believe is that Nawaz would easily win in a one to one contest with Zardari and some dare to say that six months from now even Musharraf would outpoll Zardari.


With Zardari at the helm, with Gilani as Prime Minister, Dogar as Chief Justice and the People's party in control of the legislature it does seem as if Pakistan is now in the grips of Benazir's widower. Of course the military and the Intelligence services of Pakistan cannot be ruled out but with the US continuing to play a gorilla role and with Zardari firmly in the hands of the US, Pakistanis will, at least in the short run, see more democramy than democracy.