US foreign policy

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has reportedly showered profuse praise on what he calls the courageous leadership of General Musharraf in fighting terrorism. This self-serving compliment does not surprise me. The successive cold war American administrations similarly admired the courage and statesmanship of the Shah of Iran, Marcos of Philippines, Zia of Pakistan, Mabuto of Zaire, Suharto of Indonesia and Pinnochet of Chile among others. Morality has never been the forte of the US foreign policy.

B A Malik

Islamabad