The ISI's views were expressed Nov. 19 in an article by Ahmed Quraishi, an anchor on state-owned Pakistan television, that was placed on his website and published in several of the country's newspapers. He describes an American plot "clipping the wings of a strong Pakistani military" that concludes by "toppling Musharraf, sidelining the military and installing a pliant government in Islamabad."
If Musharraf is finished, the ISI's chosen successor could be his old adversary, Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted as prime minister and went into exile in Saudi Arabia when Gen. Musharraf seized power eight years ago. A recent secret meeting in Riyadh between ISI and Saudi intelligence officials arranged for Sharif's return Nov. 25. Though he intends to regain national leadership, Sharif is boycotting the January elections, in which he would lose badly. In a recent private conversation, Sharif said he hoped a coup would not be necessary to take power but did not rule it out.
Sharif in control would fit the Saudi royal family's desire for support from nuclear power Pakistan but would be a nightmare for U.S. interests because of his Islamist ties. Bush has bet heavily on Musharraf, sending an estimated $150 million a month in secret intelligence funds. But Pakistan is resisting the Pentagon's request to send additional U.S. Special Forces to the Afghan border to help Pakistan's Frontier Corps to fight terrorists. Pakistan's dedication to fighting the Islamist terrorists is diluted by officials sharing in gun-running and drug-running. The U.S. return on its massive investment in Pakistan has been disappointing, with hopes for more from Benazir Bhutto if vote-rigging does not stop her.
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In my Nov. 29 column, I incorrectly reported that Trent Lott as a House Judiciary Committee member voted for the impeachment of Richard M. Nixon. Soon after his vote, however, upon learning of the evidence against Nixon, he did announce he would vote for impeachment on the House floor.