Who Would Replace Our Dictator in Pakistan

Every time anyone criticizes the dictator in Pakistan, some Republican steps to a microphone and warns that we need to be nice to Musharraf because if he loses power, he will be replaced by a militant Muslim regime. No Democrat or news reader or TV talking head ever disputes the claim, so I have just been assuming that Pervez Musharraf was all that stood between the world and another militant Muslim regime.

Imagine my surprise when I happen to hear a talking head on BBC acting as though the person most likely to replace our buddy Pervez is a woman, a liberal, a populist--Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf, Pakistan's fourth military dictator, came to power in a coup that ousted Nawaz Sharif. Sharif had previously ousted the elected premier, Benazir Bhutto, the only woman to ever lead a modern Muslim country. Bhutto was twice elected as premier of Pakistan and twice deposed.

Is it possible that our Republican . . . and Democratic politicians fear a populist more than they fear a Communist or a militant Muslim?