As a pakistani american, i feel that some important points regarding the latest development in pakistan needs to be made.
First,
Pakistan is currently a dictatorship under the rule of a person who took power via an illegal coup. While pakistan does not have rich history of democracy, one must remember it was established only in 1947.
here have been democratically elected leaders of pakistan such as benazir bhutto ( a woman, mind you).
President Musharraf is hugely unpopular amongst the populace in pakistan.
His elections to date have been rigged insofar as the ballot boxes have been stuffed in each so called election he has held.
Musharraf attempted to fire the supreme court chief justice without cause and there was tremendous uproar and evetually the judicial process worked enough to get him reinstated. This was a huge development.
His recent attack on the red mosque involved the slaughter of numerous children and many of the dead bodies were never given proper burial and there was a attempted coverup.
Musharraf is clearly aligned with the united states with regard to quelching terrorism in pakistan. However, in so doing, he has alienated a deeplly religious public, who view his secularism as threatening the islamic roots of pakistan.
Finally, Musharraf is desperate tot hold onto power.
Now, compare this with United States.
Bush was elected illegally in 2000.
He stacked his supreme court also.
He has done nothing to help the true victims of 9/11 like the firefighters, and the woes caused by katrina have been ignored.
He has alienated the public at large by pursuing a radical strategy in domestic and foreign matters.
He is desperate to hold onto power.
So is it any surprise that GWB and Musharraf are bosom buddies?