After much posturing and threat issuing, the most popularly opposed war in human history is now underway. To the chagrin of its American and British propagators, it appears that the takeover of Iraq will not be as straightforward as initially advertised. Moreover, with each new casualty, the American and British leaders leave themselves more vulnerable to public outrage.
Many say that the invading powers should have been better aware from the outset of the potential resistance they would face in Iraq. And, among those who say that this war will be the beginning of the end for American imperial ambitions is the multitude of radical Islamist groups operating with a multitude of stated objectives. The truth is that American and British public relations efforts have been as extensive as the accumulation of military might in the Gulf, and the rhetoric of a quick and painless war primarily reflected apprehensions in the American and British public rather than realities on the ground.
Nevertheless, the reaction of radical Islamist groups across the globe has been predictable. References have been made to the now all-too-familiar clash of civilisations, the inevitable downfall of the satanic US empire, and warnings have been issued to Muslim countries still allying themselves with Washington that there will be hell to pay if they do not reverse the policy.
MMA benefit
In Pakistan too, this has been the response of the main alliance of religious parties, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). The MMA has newfound legitimacy since its unprecedented showing in the October 2002 general election, in which it garnered almost 20 percent of the vote. Given that religious parties in Pakistan had never taken more than five percent of the popular vote prior to the 2002 election, the MMA's strong showing allows it to present itself as a new force in Pakistani politics.