Musharraf book:Chutzpah par excellence but not to be dimissed

New Delhi, Oct 2 (UNI) If there is one word that can best describe Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's just-released memoirs, "In the Line of Fire", it is chutzpah.

Derived from Yiddish, it means 'brazen audacity' amongst other interpretations that include enormous gall and nerve. The book has become an instant best-seller and the media-savvy General has used every available opportunity in the US and UK (where he was visiting) to promote the book and sales have reached record levels.

However, the excerpts that have been published on some crucial aspects of the book reveal certain characteristics about the General personally and, more importantly, about the Pakistani state and the nature of the politico-military relationship and the manner in which the phenomenon of religious radicalism and terrorism have evolved over the last 25 years in that country.

All these facets have critical relevance for India - more so after the findings of the Mumbai police in the 7/11 bomb blasts that indict the ISI - and the world in general, apropos the on-going war on terrorism.

The personal element about these memoirs has already received wide mention in the news of the last few days and what is central is the manner in which Gen Musharraf has projected himself - as a fiercely courageous and upright soldier, who has always been "in the line of fire" and placed the interest of his country above all.

By itself, such a stance is unexceptionable and every soldier of any nation would have a similar value code. However it is the manner in which Gen Musharraf interprets his own career in the higher ranks that reveals the man's megalomania . This is reflected in one section, where he refers to the manipulation in the Pakistani military's promotion system and notes that when he was a Brigadier, his name was dropped from the promotion list for Major Generals.

The Pakistani Prime Minister at the time was Ms Benazir Bhutto but later on he was added to the list and promoted.

Gen Musharraf writes: "My promotion as Army Chief is next only to a miracle, seen with all the seniority manipulations, negative propaganda against me and my character assassination." The use of the word 'miracle' is instructive, for it suggests a conviction about divine intervention, which has been invoked by many leaders in history, who believed - quite sincerely - that they were the saviours of their nation.

Gen Musharraf's contempt and disdain for the politicalconstituency in Pakistan is one of his trademarks and he has projected the Pakistani Army as the only institution that can hold the country together and save it - from the corrupt practices of the political classes. It is this streak that runs through the narrative but what is illuminating is the manner in which he has deliberately distorted history - on crucial issues - to project himself and the Pakistani military in very favourable light.

This aspect is most glaring in the case of Gen Musharraf's version of the 1999 Kargil War and his interpretation is that India was planning an offensive and that the Pakistani military took counter-measures to strengthen their defenses.

He further adds that this was "a tactical marvel of military professionalism." This convenient distortion (lie?) is at complete variance with the reality of how the Kargil War began and, forget the Indian version, even Pakistani military analysts at the time had a completely different account of the events.

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