Allah goes on to argue that these revolutions did more than just topple regimes like Mubarak s. More importantly, they have destroyed the doctrine of stability that allowed the regimes and the West to exploit the region and provide security for Israel.

Admitting surprise at the speed of events, Allah advises Al Qaeda groups to engage gently with the rising forces in these countries. Tactically, he argues, this is the only way for Al Qaeda to achieve its ultimate goal of taking power.

God, Bokh, whatever name you want to call him with, Allah, Ram, Om, whatever the name might be through which you name or access the presence of divinity, it is the locus of absolute being, absolute love and mercy and compassion, and absolute knowledge and wisdom, what Hindus call satchidananda.

A younger Al Qaeda ideologue is more convincing, however. In a message dated February 16, 2011, entitled The People s Revolution and the Fall of the Corrupt Arab System A New Beginning and the Shattering of the Idol of Stability, a Libyan who goes by the name Atiyat Allah writes, It is true that this revolution is not the ideal that we had desired . W e hope that this is the first step to better times yet.

Of the three, it is the army leadership that has the clearest means of ridding the country of Pakistan s president in uniform, Pervez Musharraf. And that s the main reason any power sharing deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is unlikely to end Pakistan s political turmoil.