Threat of pre-emption

As if the daunting growth of terrorism in our tribal areas, and its expansion to major urban centres of Pakistan were not enough, the US has been accusing us of "not doing enough" and extending its war against terror into our territory.

Accustomed to get their wishes fully respected by Musharraf since he joined the US after 911, they are insisting that the democratically elected government that assumed power after the February 18 elections should even go further as the nationalist resistance in Afghanistan has grown stronger.

Ever since the defeat of the Soviet Union in the Cold War, in 1989 in which Pakistan's tribal areas played a decisive role, the US had been engaged in consolidating its global hegemony, step by step. The elder Bush stationed US forces in major Islamic countries, notably Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and got Israel's security and military clout ensured, following the Gulf War (1990-1991).

Towards the end of his term, two neo-con scholars, Wolfowitz and Libby came up with the project of a "New American Century" on the basis of US superiority in military strength and technology in 1992. However, the two terms of Bill Clinton delayed the implementation of that concept till 2001, when George W Bush entered the White House.