That is just not true Steve. That is the line he gives out to mollify critics in the West. The reason for the emergency was simple - he was in danger of losing power. He is a dictator, remember?

The situation in Pakistan is NOT one where it is Musharraf or the Islamists. Support for Bhutto and for Sharif is huge relative to the support for any kind of extremist. If Musharraf had lost power, it would have passed most likely to Bhutto - a western-friendly regime - with secular militarists (not unlike Musharraf) holding substantial power in the background.

This has nothing to do with the terrorists.

The nuclear argument is well taken but wouldn't we rather see Musharref maintain control over those weapons even if it means a reduction of civil liberties? The country is a mess by anyone's standards and stability should be first and foremost. The question I haven't heard asked or answered is where is Bhutto and what is her reaction?

Part of the reason for this emergency declaration is to rid the country of Al Qaeda and Taliban so I don't agree with Maguire's point of view.

Musharref said earlier he would not let his country commit suicide. That suicide would be the installation of an Islamic regime bent on giving those weapons to terrorists.

Before anyone calls my post "dumb" take some time to make a real argument.

More evidence that Glenn Reynolds lives in an imaginary world of his own creation. Really, that could be the dumbest thing I've ever read by him, by far.

Heh.