From the Malaysia Sun:

‘The crises confronting the Islamic world are not only external but also internal, flowing from our own weaknesses, our own vulnerabilities, our own divisions within,’ he said. ‘The Islamic world is on a downward slide and we must face this.’

General Musharraf said Islamic countries have failed to invest in education and lag far behind the rest of the world in literacy and economic growth.

The president also lashed out at Muslim hardliners who he blamed for fueling Western fears of the Islamic world.

‘While the world views Islam as a militant, intolerant religion, this thought is reinforced by our own extremist forces,’ he said. ‘We are in a state where these semi-literate clerics are closing the minds of people.’

Unfortunately when someone is on a “downward slide” you often need to allow them to hit rock bottom before the lesson is really learnt.

And talk about creating a monster. Pakistani intelligence agencies and military have been encouraging a zombie army of “semi-literate clerics” and Islamist militants at home and abroad for decades, from Afghanistan to Bangladesh and continued to do so even as the above lecture was being given. So best of luck facing a problem you yourselves helped create and should have faced a long time ago. Ironically at the same Musharraf has actually made some decent progress in modernising Pakistan’s economy and education system. Can’t have it both ways though – either you build medieval Deobandi madrassahs or you build modern liberal universities.

(H/t Saint)