The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 6

A6 THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2001 CITY LIFE akistan the star in diplomatic ballet Allen-Mills in London's Sunday Times talks of "a worst-case" scenario of moving Pakistan's nukes, whose pre sent location is secret to China for safekeeping if things unravel Apparently, the Pakistanis are reluctant to accept U.S. help in protecting them forfear that the Americans real intent would be to destroy or neutralize the weapons. Musharraf's trapeze act is also being closely watched by two other major players, Russia and India, who are understandably alarmed by the growing religious militancy in the region, the direct effects of which continue to cause much loss of lifemfrdianKashmir. Today, Vajpayee and Putin are expected to sign a document they call the Moscow declaration on terrorism before the Indian prime minister arrives in Washington for his meeting with Bush on Friday Some commentators seeanewpoweraxis involving India, the US. and Russia, the argument being that they are secular democracies committed to fighting domestic and global terrorism.

As you can see, Bush's dance card is full. It will be interesting to see who falls in step and who doesn't Ashok Chandwani can be reached by phoneat(514)987-2469. His E-mail address is ashokthegazette.southam.ca. nancial bailouts as well as a growing international profile and acceptance. Still, not all of this is because of circumstances.

You have to credit the man with immense shrewdness, too. And media savvy It will be interesting to see, for example, whether the general wears his uniform or a business suit when he meets Bush. Thus far he has been alternating to fit the occasion. ALARM BELLS RINGING Musharraf's metamorphosis has rung alarm bells in and around Pakistan. Prc-democracy groups see Musharraf's new coziness with the U.S.

as a setback they're skeptical now that he will hold to his promise of returning the country to civilian rule next October Islamist and other militant groups feel betrayed for other reasons their protests and denunciations of Musharraf and America are getting shriller by the day Pakistani volunteers are pouring into Afghanistan by the hundreds to fight alongside the Taliban as American officials keep raising the spectre of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, believed to be between 20 and 50 bombs, falling into the hands of generals orpoUtical parties less supportive of the U.S. A report from Washington by Tony As the war against terrorism enters its fifth week in Afghanistan, some of the action is shifting to the White House this week. In Phase 2 of this 21st-century Great Game, a steady stream of world leaders will be meeting President George W. Bush in a complex diplomatic ballet, with star billing going to Pakistan's General Pervez Musharraf, that country self-proclaimed president Other leaders meeting Bush include those of Britain, France and India, all supporters of the waron the Taliban. This week of intense diplomatic activity comes on the heels of a whirlwind trip to Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India by US.

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and meetings in London between Tony Blair and some of his European counterparts as well as Musharraf and Jordan's King Abdullah. Blair will also meet India's Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is in Moscow meeting Vkdimir Putin before flying to Washington to also meet Bush. If mere'sonethingthisflurryof diplomatic activity confirms is that what started as an us-against-them response to the terrorist massacre in Manhattan seems to be expanding into a major geopolitical crisis. Echoes of Rudyard Kipling's fictional Great Game notwithstanding, this new game is reaL The stakes are just too high for it to become a remote and localized war. We're already experiencing the economic fallout-jobs losses, fear and stress that are threatening to compound into a recession, whether you live in Montreal, Munich or Macao.

But it is not the state of various economies that will be on the agenda of this week's meetings. The leaders will be grappling with the far more frightening issues of new terrorist actions and the nightmarish possibility of Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands. MUSHARRAF PLAYS LEAD This is why Musharraf will be the star of this week's talks. This will be Bush's first meeting with the general, a crucial ally today, but a man who was harshly condemned by the U.S. when he seized power in a military coup in Pakistan on Oct 12, 1999, and treated with suspicion because of his government's open support of the Taliban.

Sept 11 and Musharraf backing the U.S. in its war against the Taliban have obviously changed all this. The general now has the clear backing of the U.S. in a relationship that is as much a gamble The king of HO easy ii MONTREALMO I QUE Montrealer Richard Abel has become the best-selling instrumental artist in Canada EYE ON ST Guy Rousseau, of Last Po6t Fund, in ASHOK CHANDWANI for Bush as it is for Musharraf. While the general has gained increasing admiration for his calm per-.

formance in the face of angry and violent protests athis pro-US. stand, it's difficult to gauge how much internal support he has for his moderation, particularly in the army The military has been a power broker in Pakistan since it was founded in 1947, with army strongmen ruling the country for 27 of the past 54 years. A lot of army officers are widely suspected of being sympathetic to the Taliban, as are a significant number of the Islamic nation's 140 million people. The war has given Musharraf the opportunity to purge or sideline some of his less-moderate commanders and consolidate his own power base. Support for the U.

S. has also brought his country a bonanza in new aid and fi DYKSTRA MONIQUE DYKSTRA, GAZETTE 30 men. These men rely on yoa At the end of my career, I was in charge of almost 200 United Nations observers in Sarajevo. That's a lot of responsibility. "We finally sold the house in the Townships.

It got to be too much, working all week, then driving out there to cut the grass on weekends. "I like my work. First it's related to the military I'm always working with the older generation of servicemen. And it's always Interesting. One time, a veteran was supposed to buried on a certain day, then I got a phone call saying that one of the family members had driven by the grave and stolen the urn.

Everything turned out all right In the end, but that certainly was the big excitement of the yeac" To donate to the Last Post Fund, go to www.lastpostfund.ca. Comments and suggestions? Monlque Dykstra's E-mail address Is 4 ALAN HUSTAK The Gazette Richard Abel's latest album, Inspiration Classique, has sold almost 100,000 copies and last month the CD earned the Montreal pop pianist his third Felix Award. That's Quebec's equivalent of a Grammy or a Juno for achievement in music, handed out each year by the Quebec recording industry association ADISQ Abel is now the best-selling instrumental artist in Canada, but unless you sail the QE2 or are invited to private society functions, you won't easily get to see him onstage. With a repertoire of more than a thousand tunes and a magnetic and engaging personality, Abel has filled a void left by other easy-listening piano stylists such as Roger Williams or Ha-good Hardy. "I'm not a classical pianist," Abel said in an interview.

"What is important is all I want to do is to play and to make people happy That's if LEARNED FROM MOTHER Abel 46, was born in Montreal, grew up in Rosemont and first learned to play by listening to his mother. "When she sat down to play, the world stopped," he recalled. Because of her, Abel dropped out of biochemistry studies, decided to forgo a medical career and took up music. Armas Maiste, the Montreal Symphony's orchestral pianist, helped Abel hone his technique. Abel cut his first record, a 45 LP, Meditation from Massenet's Thais, 20 years ago.

His other inspiration was Liberace, whom he met in Montreal "I will never forget Liberace," he said. "He heard me play and told me if I wanted to be successful I just had to remember one word of advice. That word is discipline." Abel took the guidance to heart, and since his professional debut has never looked back. He's performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, at Rideau Hall and the prime minister's residence, and is shipboard pianist aboard Cu-nard luxury liners such as the Queen Elizabeth 2. This month, however, he's performing at the Montreal Casino.

Listening to him, however, is not the same as watching him perform. "There are really two Richard Abels, sterling he said, "The Richard Abel you hear on the album is passive. He is there to create an ambiance. He's quiet, in the background. You can eat work at your computer, and talk while you are listening to him.

"Then there is the other Richard Abel the showman." Abel's dexterity at the keyboard is displayed on a video screen while'he performs. He does solid renditions of such romantic tunes as the theme frotn Chariots of Fire, Time to Say Goodbye, (Con Te Partino), a medley from the Sound of Music. He even sings along during a tribute to French singer-composer Joe Dassin. "I am so happy doing instrumental music," he said. "It has no language, so everyone in the audience can enjoy it" Abel is backed by a 14-piece orchestra.

It's all predictable, but pleasant "Good melody is good melody If the melody is good, if it is played well, what's wrong with easy listening?" Richard Abel plays the Cabaret de Casino four times a week until Noa 29 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m., and Sunday brunch at 11. For reservations, call (514) 790-1245. Alan Hustak's E-mail address is ahustakthegazette.southam.ca. PIERRE OIENORAUF, GAZETTE Pianist Richard Abel does his show at the Montreal Casino on Sunday. Charles St (450) 646-8200.

Montreal West: Today, 8p.m. Questions from the public at the end of the meeting. 50 Westminster Ave. (514) 481-8125. St.

Hubert: Todays 8p.m. Questions from the public at the end of meeting. 5245 Cousineau Blvd. (450) 445-7600. SCHOOL BOARDS New Frontier School Board: 7b-day, 8 p.m.

Howick Elementary School, 5 Lambton Howick. (450) 691-1440. front of the war memorial in Dorchester Square. Ensuring our veterans can rest in peace GUY ROUSSEAU Last Post Fund maglne sacrificing your youth, fac ing danger and enduring hardsh Ip to serve your country in war, then ending up, tlirough unfortunate Who's meeting this week "Hair created the Last Post Fund, a non profit organization that helps veterans without sufficient resources receive a dignified burial Since the organization began, we've handled over 142,000 cases. We also manage the Field of Honour, a military cemetery out in Polnte Claire.

"1 started working with the Last Post Fund after I retired. After leaving the military, I hadn't Intended to go back to work. We'd bought a house in the Eastern Townships. It was the dream of my 1 ife. The scenery was Just like Europe.

I thought I'd spend the rest of my life there. But I found it isolated. You could go for walks on your property, but that got boring pretty quick. "In the military, there's always work to be done. You're always pushing yourself.

There's a lot of responsibility. The military is the only profession where you hold the lives of a group of men In your hands. When you graduate as a young officer, they give you a squad of circumstances, dying poor, alone and forgotten. Without friends and family to mournyour passing, orfundsfora proper burial, your remains are tossed into an pauper's grave. What a terrible, terrible tlwught.

Tlvank goodness that never happened in Canada, right? Wrong. Dead wrong. "The Last Post Fund was started In 1909 by A.H.D. Hair, a veteran of the Crimean War who lived in Montreal. I le'd hnard about a veteran who was to be buried In a common grave because hp didn't have the money for a proper funeral.

Ha lr collated some money and arranged a burial, then decided something had to be done. Here's a partial list of public meetings in the region scheduled for the coming week. Chateauguay: Today, 8p.m. Questions from the public at the beginning and end of the meeting. 55 Maple St (450)698-3054.

Dollard des Ormeaux: Today. 7:30 p.m. Questions from the public at 7:30 p.m. 12001 de Salabcrry Blvd. (514) 684-1010.

Longueuil: Tomorrow, 7p.m. Questions from the public at 7 p.m. 300 St..