[Prometheus]

Instability in that region is certainly dangerous to America, but not as dangerous as those who benefit politically from our fear would have us think.

Firstly - They DO have nukes, but the system of security which regulates their use was designed by the US, and is very good. The nukes are not stored in assembled condition - the pieces are stored in seperate locations known to only a few. The only group that could assemble a full nuke would be the legitimate government. An insurgency, takeover or rebellion couldn't pull it off. The danger of a full out nuke is low, though the danger of a dirty bomb can't be ruled out. The source on that is the pakistani guy interviewed on the Sean Hannity show and by Bill O'rielly today.

Secondly - Though Musharrov's method of governing is abhorrant to our western sensabilities and concept of justice, human rights etc, Musharrov may very well provide the greatest stability for Pakistan. Pakistan is not held together by law and legal authority like America. It is held together by the military. And Musharov holds together the military. He is 10 years senior anyone else in the army. There is a substantial radical muslim segment in the military, and only a skillful balance of segregation and appeasement keeps the military from a radical muslim takeover. This is a stability that an outside woman may or may not be able to acheive. Musharov is at lest marginally acceptable to the population at large. Bhuto is anathama (as a US educated woman) to a significant segment of the population. This assination may not be as destabilizing as it appears.