Muslims are again commemorating Ashura, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his family at Karbala, at a time when the Muslim world has two countries occupied by the USA, and is in the throes of the USAs war on terror against it. Once again, the forces the Imam fought against to the extent of giving his life, the forces of Yazid, are arrayed against Muslims, and have even proclaimed a crusade. These forces have been clever enough to launch their assault, only after making sure of the governments in Muslim countries and the successor governments to their colonial rule are on their side. Those anti-Muslim forces, which are trying to perpetuate the exploitation of man by man, may have lost their colonial empires, but their standard-bearer, the USA, occupies directly Iraq and Afghanistan, wants to invade Iran, and fully backs Israel and India, which are in occupation of Palestine and Kashmir. These countries may have lost the ability to continue in occupation of their empires, they are participating in the American occupations through NATO, of which they are all members, and to whose missions in Iraq and Afghanistan all have contributed. The European contingents are as much devoted to making the world safe for American citizens as the Pakistani government, which has taken the US backing to mean blanket permission for the corruption it is practicing. This has been extended to a defiance of the Supreme Court, because it refused to give cover to corruption, instead pledging to bring back all looted money. The Muslim world needs to give rulers in the American pocket short shrift, and end the support for the sole superpower that allows it to bestride the Muslims like some colossus. It must also shun all sectarian differences if it pays attention to the Imams message, and unite. This alone will throw fear into the hearts of those who oppose the Muslims because they are envious of the resources given to the Muslim world, and Muslims must unite against these forces if they want to be free enough to follow the Imams teachings. At the same time The government must also stop paying lip-service to them, and obey the dictates of the courts, as well as look after the affairs of the people, if it wishes to prevent itself from being put in the same category as the forces of Yazid. It must not just work against US dictates, but also for the Muslim unity implicit in the Imams example. His sacrifice might have been inevitable, but that is no reason why, while commemorating Ashura, Pakistan must be so neglectful of the Imams message, which is one of resistance, not complaisance.