The Pakistanis are learning about democracy

Does this sound familiar?

With their country in turmoil, Pakistani voters are expected within months to go to the polls for the first parliamentary elections here in five years. But as time runs short, independent observers say that the nation is poorly prepared and that the elections will be highly vulnerable to fraud.

The most glaring weakness, they say, is a new voter list that is missing the names of tens of millions of Pakistanis, threatening to seed mass confusion over who is eligible to cast a ballot.

And, of course, if we're talking purged voter rolls which benefit one side, who else but the Bush administration would be involved.

Creation of the list was heavily funded by Washington. It was to be the signature U.S. contribution to the election process.

Congratulations. You've transferred Pakistani outrage over fixed elections from Musharraf to the US. (Was that the plan?)