What a difference a month makes!

As the United States continues to bombard the feudal state of Afghanistan, with the gleeful (yet anxious!) connivance of a bevy of assorted junior partners, the playlist of who's who seems to get rewritten by the hour. Unperturbed by the Churchillian axiom that a nation has no permanent friends, nor permanent enemies, but only permanent interests, the U.S. has cast a wide, imperial net, to scoop up a bucket-full of buddies.

The resultant quasi-'Coalition' is a reflection of the wide and deep contradictions that emerge, when one considers what the U.S. announces is its foreign policy, and what it is in *realpolitik*. If the U.S. is the target of the "terrorists" because of 'its wonderful democracy' (as non-majority-elected President Bush suggests) why is it bundled up with nations that see democracy as a bad word?

Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are many things, but democracies they ain't!

Only one person voted for Gen. P. Musharraf to become President of Pakistan -- himself! Because he was General, his was the only vote that counted. In clear, unalloyed terms, Pakistan is a military dictatorship. Worse, it is an unstable state where upwards of 80% of its population support the Taliban of Afghanistan -- which exists, in part, because of the machinations of Pakistani military intelligence!

The Saudi Kingdom is, in essence, a theocracy, where the Royal Family rules with an iron hand, and where women aren't even allowed to drive! The Bin-Laden clan is one of the First Families of the kingdom, builders of many of the structures in the Islamic holy places of Mecca.

The Wahabbi sect of Islam promoted by the Royal House is but a variant of that practiced by the Taliban.

The madrassas in Pakistan (of which there are over 10,000) were, for the better part of two decades, training schools for the Taliban, and, in fact, educated perhaps 75% of it's leadership. Pakistan, being a desperately poor, post- colonial nation, cannot afford public education for its teeming young population. The madrassas therefore, being the only free schools in the region, are plush with students, who learn a thorough Koranic education, with history from an Islamic perspective.

The backers of the madrassas? Saudi Arabia.

"OK, Jamal - - - What's the point?", the thoughtful readers ask.

The point is that the two best buds of the USA -- Ally No. 1 - Pakistan; and Ally No. 2 - Saudi Arabia, -- are the prime movers, backers, supporters, and sustainers of the so-called 'enemy': the Taliban.

If *80%* of Pakistanis support the Taliban (in a region where one's ethnicity or tribal allegiances may go deeper than religion!) what can any government -- even a military dictatorship -- do to suppress that expression?

The American bombing campaign is sowing the pregnant seeds of civil war in Pakistan, and rolling instability in the whole region.

For the closer the US nestles to Pakistan, the more nervous the (democratic!) Republic of India gets. The two nations are already involved in an on-again, off-again, shooting war over the northern Indian (or is it western Pakistani?) province of Kashmir.

Kashmir, with its overwhelmingly Muslim population has been agitating for homerule, and national independence for decades. To the Indians, Kashmiri militants are "terrorists." To the Pakistanis, they look a lot like "freedom fighters." (Isn't that the same thing that was said about the Taliban when they were *mujahadeen* fighting the Soviets?).

The US charges into a thicket, knowing neither its enemies, nor its real friends.

It is a time of danger, that holds dangers not just for the US, nor even the region: but the world.

Copyright 2001 Mumia Abu-Jamal
================================

THEY ARE PLANNING TO MURDER MUMIA!!

SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 8TH - FOR MUMIA!
PLEASE PASS THE WORD!

"We are fighting the last battle to Free Mumia, and need support now more than ever. We need donations of money, calling cards, copy cards, etc. and we really need manpower. We need people to be in the streets every day putting out information, demonstrating, raising money, and doing whatever you can to help."

"Tell judge pamela dembe to hold an evidentiary hearing and a new post-conviction relief appeal, to hear the confession of Arnold Beverly and to let Mumia be at the hearings in his "trial". Tell mayor john street to keep his promise and do what he can to help Mumia receive a fair trial and to hold an independent investigation into the case. (you can get a sample of both of these letters at http://www.freemumia.com

pamela dembe: 1417 criminal justice center 1301 Filbert St. philadelphia pa, 19107 Phone 215 683-7148 Fax 215 683-7150

john street: room 215 city hall philadelphia pa 19107 Phone 215 686-3000 Fax 215 686-2170"

PLEASE CONTACT:
International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ
P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180/
E-mail - [email protected]
AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES!

Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal
AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370

!! PEOPLE GET READY !!

A new biography, 'On A Move: The Story of Mumia Abu-Jamal', is available at www.MumiaBook.com

To communicate directly with Mumia write to him at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370