We are at an interesting crossroads in the WOT. In his inaugural address Mr Bush spoke about the need to promote democracy as a means to limit terrorism. We seemed to have moved Egypt in that direction but are we going to be willing to push allies in the WOT to do the same? Will we urge Musharraf to hold presidential elections in Pakistan? Will we press Karimov to do the same? Will we support democratic elections in west African states like Mauritania where Islamists will likely win?
Doing so may hurt us in the WOT but not doing so will undermine our reputation irreparably and incite more to oppose us.
I take the longer view and say we must support democratic reforms even if it means pulling our support (and our troops) out of a country like Uzbekistan.
follow the development here http://www.rferl.org/specials/uzbek_unrest/