One of our "democratic" "allies"

January 20, 2005: "It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world," Bush said in his inaugural address after his swearing-in ceremony."

Today: "With President Pervez Musharraf facing an election in just two weeks, police on Saturday night arrested key opposition leaders who had vowed to try to block the general's plans for winning a new term."

(And, a question: Would the US have been better served backing free elections the very moderate and very democratic Bhutto? Would that have worked? Would Musharraf have still blocked elections and been more hostile to the US?)