Petraeus: no coup coming in Pakistan

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Thursday, December 10, 2009 - 5:24 PM Share

I can remember when Gen. David Petraeus testifying on Capitol Hill was big news. It shows how much times have changed that I didn't even realize that Petraeus, a senior Army officer who was prominent in 2007-2008, was appearing until I noticed a small story deep inside this morning's New York Times.

So as remedial work I sat down and read the hearing transcript this morning. I thought Petraeus was surprisingly confident in knocking down talk of a military coup d'etat in Pakistan:

Senator, as one who's been in Pakistan, in fact, about four or five times in the last six months and had a lot of conversations with military leaders as well as the civilian leadership, I actually don't think that the current challenges imperil civilian rule. There clearly are challenges to -- potential challenges to President Zardari, but again, I don't see the prospect or the desire for anyone to change civilian rule.

FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:CENTRAL ASIA, MILITARY, PAKISTAN

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JJH722

6:35 PM ET

December 10, 2009

i agree with him. the

i agree with him. the military is the state in many ways, and it controls what there is to control of that state. zardari is weak. they may push him out, but barring some MAJOR domestic calamity i doubt they would revert to outright military rule within the next couple of years. it serves them better to play the role of puppetmaster (even if their control of the strings is less sure than it was under Musharraf, when they created a nice little panoply of hardline Islamist parties as a token opposition to the PML-Q). the Pakistani people weren't exactly thrilled about Musharraf or the army when he was in control, but they get all giddy watching the military take potshots at Zardari from the sidelines. the army probably enjoys this role too much to give it up so soon after the public rejection of musharraf.

IMRAN2U

5:26 AM ET

December 11, 2009

Of Baloon Boy and Musharraf: Why US is clueless about Pakistan

The current government might be unpopular but people at large have no stomach for military (mis)rule. Of course the mess created by Musharraf during his 8 years at the helm has to something to do with it. Remember that it was the civil society movement on behalf of the deposed Chief Justice which resulted in the ultimate removal of Musharraf. In fact the negative perception of the US in Pakistan is also directly linked to unfettered support provided by Uncle Sam to Musharraf's dictatorship. There is, however, a greater chance of early elections being called and Pakistan Muslim League replacing the People's Party. America would rather avoid that situation too as it might take away Pakistan's focus from the war on AlQaeda.

To Kunino: "the some guy" in the caption is the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Of course it would be difficult for anyone to know about that, what with the balloon boy saga, the Salahis and their trip to the White House and Tiger Woods' unending saga to mention only a few events which have captivated the Americans in recent days.

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6:51 AM ET

December 11, 2009

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