[swarthyguy]

Jeez, if even STRATFOR is questioning Mushie, things must have become really bad. Even the Bush people can apparently tolerate only so much BS from Pakistan.

Not the Pakistanis fault, if they choose to prevaricate, and we believe them.....

[Alexander Rubin]

A little from columna A, and a lot from column B.

[samadams2000]

If history is a guide...Id say he's lying.

[silverleaf]

ping to read later

[swarthyguy]

Janus Musharraf.

Since he has two faces, does he have 18 lives?

[lugsoul]

"Recognition within Islamabad that Pakistan's importance as a US ally likely will dissolve if bin Laden is captured or killed."

Ah. Mushie is a tease...

[Yasotay]

We allow 500+ ISI and Pakistani military advisers helping the Taliban to by airlifted out of Afghanistan .... It is amazing that Musharraf is even still alive ..... Not in control??? Since Bush bet with Musharraf, I can only hope he is in control......

[COBOL2Java]

Is Musharraf Lying to Washington or Is He Not in Control?

Yes

[gdani]

Let's see -- A military dictator who seized power through a coup & then re-wrote the nation's laws to give himself ultimate power.

And we're surprised when he lies to us?

[Rockingham]

This analysis is distressingly well-founded. Pakistan's alliance with and support for Islamic extremism has been a core principle of its military and intelligence strategy for decades. That alliance is seen as strengthening Pakistan against India and other enemies and as helping generate support for the military in domestic politics. In addition, Muslim regimes have long recognized that restive domestic populations must be given outlets for conflict lest their destructive energies be turned against their rulers.

From the US standpoint, Musharraf's weakness and unreliability as an ally against Bin Laden may well be tolerable against greater dangers: an Islmamist regime in power and bent on terrorism and nuclear proliferation; or having a Paki nuke loaded into the cargo hold of a civilian airliner for a quick and devastating trip to the US. Musharraf and his shaky regime are better than any likely alternative.