David Pryce-Jones

In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf overthrew Pakistan’s civilian government in a coup. While he has been criticized by some both within and outside of Pakistan for failing to restore democracy in that country, David Pryce-Jones argues in the following viewpoint that Musharraf should instead be praised for taking actions against Islamic militants in Pakistan. He compares Musharraf to Mustapha Kemal (Ataturk), who as military dictator of Turkey following World War I successfully established the foundations for a secular society and democratic government in that country. Pryce-Jones contends that a similar period of military rule may be necessary in Pakistan to prevent the country from succumbing to Islamic extremism or descending into anarchy. A senior editor for the conservative magazine National Review, Pryce- Jones is a historian...