Allies among us

No less an authority on the subject of allies than Secretary of State Colin Powell has said, repeatedly for more than five weeks now, that the United States has had since Sept. 11 no greater ally than Pakistan in the war against terrorism. Likewise, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has on many occasions praised Pakistan for its courageous stand and for the risk it takes in choosing civilization over barbarism when it has barbarism for a neighbor.

From State and Defense Department briefings, we know that Pakistan’s support goes beyond words to actual deeds. The clearance to use Pakistani air space and the logistic support, including air bases, are invaluable to the air campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistani intelligence provides information that could save the lives of American troops in a ground campaign, its operatives bravely infiltrate Afghanistan to stir up opposition to the Taliban and to pinpoint the lairs of Al Qaeda terrorists.

Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, continues to guarantee his country’s support, despite noisy and sometimes violent street demonstrations stirred up by radical Islamic clerics. His statement, “We have decided to be with the coalition in the fight against terrorism,” made during a press conference with Secretary Powell this week, may not be stirring oratory, but it is unequivocal. Despite the very real possibility that India would use Pakistan’s distractions with the demonstrations as an opportunity to advance its claim upon the disputed province of Kashmir, Pakistan’s support has remained firm.

President Bush, of course, has expressed his gratitude to Gen. Musharraf and the Pakistani people many times. He also has stressed, repeatedly and sincerely, that this war is against terrorism, not against the religion of Islam or the people who practice it.

These points are offered not as a recap of current events, but as a reminder those here in Bangor who persist in harassing, threatening and intimidating the family that owns and operates the Bahaar Pakistani Restaurant. Noor Khan and his family are Muslims, they are from Pakistan, they are peaceful people who run a fine restaurant in this city.

They are as heartbroken as anyone by the tragedy of Sept. 11. They closed their restaurant at first for several days out of respect for the victims. Since then, they have been closed most days out of fear. One man already faces charges for threatening the Khans, yet the ugly phone calls, the drive-by cursing, the face-to-face confrontations continue, the Khans’ young children can no longer play outside without supervision. Though the perpetrators are few in number, their acts are of the sort that can, if left unanswered, stain an entire community.

And if the words of Powell, Blair and Bush haven’t gotten the message across, perhaps the words of Noor Khan will: “I think the people should know that this is the time where people should realize what freedom is all about.”