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Somewhat related item...

Newsweek Declares Iraq Unsafe For al-Qaeda, Iraqis See War Deaths Drop Nearly 100%

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So I am not sure how to take this commentary from Newsweek, but it seems (as many of us have been saying) that the build up of al-Qaeda in Pakistan is obvious for many clear (and surprising reasons). It seems that Iraq and Afghanistan are so harsh for al-Qaeda it is no surprise they are moving to safe havens in Pakistan

Good article. The Taliban used to have no better ally than Pakistan. After 9/11 that changed.

Very little has changed. From Newsweek:

"The safe haven provided by Pakistan has already had dire effects on U.S. and NATO efforts to fight the resurgent Taliban next door in Afghanistan. Taliban fighters now pretty much come and go as they please inside Pakistan. Their sick and injured get patched up in private hospitals there. Guns and supplies are readily available, and in the winter, when fighting traditionally dies down in Afghanistan, thousands retire to the country's thriving madrassas to study the Qur'an. Some of the brainier operatives attend courses in computer technology, video production and even English. Far from keeping a low profile, the visiting fighters attend services at local mosques, where after prayers they speak to the congregation, soliciting donations to support the war against the West. "Pakistan is like your shoulder that supports your RPG," Taliban commander Mullah Momin Ahmed told NEWSWEEK, barely a month before a U.S. airstrike killed him last September in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province. "Without it you couldn't fight. Thank God Pakistan is not against us."

Musharaff is far from being a perfect leader, but would consider him to fall on the 'ally' side of the fence. He's almost definitely more useful for the United States than if Pakistan was allowed to vote an islamofascist government into office.

Just as in the Cold War, sometimes a dictatorship should be supported over a democratic, but hostile, government with the mandate of the people. And Musharaff doesn't seem to be nearly as selfishly corrupt as the the Latin American and other dictators the United States supported in the latter half of last century. He doesn't appear to be grafting the treasury for his own gain.

So, hopefully this Musharaff/Bhutto partnership will work out. Musharaff will serve to stabilize the country while Bhutto hopefully change the nation's outlook on life and slowly lead Pakistan to a safe 'democracy' (representative government).