[MimirsWell]

Its funny the article discusses whats good for democracy in the region when America supports Musharraf. The anti-Muslim bias that prevents the author from seeing the real reasons for the coup in Thailand makes him appear very very ignorant.

Sonthi is Muslim but thats where any Islamic connection ends. The army swears allegiance to a Buddhist King and Sonthi is only the face of the army. Should his loyalty appear to be elsewhere, others in the army will put him away. Its as simple as that. Thailand literally worships its King, and with god reason. He is a Godly man. This article promotes paranoia when it should be directed at democratizing Pakistan instead. The US can't use different yardsticks in different countries. Being in bed with a dicator in one country and being against one in another.

[JimSEA]

This article promotes paranoia when it should be directed at democratizing Pakistan instead.

Agreed, there is enough to concern us regarding Islamist politics and aggression without inventing problems.

[neb52]

"While following the coup, Thailand’s military regime has tightened an already iron grip on the nation, pursuing political opponents, arresting dissidents and intensifying media controls. Thailand’s ruling generals further banned all political activities and imposed tough new curbs on the media, including a ban on expressions of public opinion, as they tightened their grip on power two days after a bloodless coup."

Everybody I know has said nothing has changed other than the corrupt China sympathizer police bribing thug Thaksin has been thrown out of office by the Army. Otherwise TV and news is the same other than the State TV playing patriotic stuff about the King for two days. There are other TV stations there. So what is this author's agenda?