Reality filtered.

While she gave a nod toward Pakistan's barely rekindled democracy, Condoleezza Rice was throwing some bon mots of support to Musharraf today. This administration sees everything through the filter of the imagined existential threat of Islamic extremism. Never mind human rights or democratization, damn it, Musharaf was on our side against the terrorists. You know, the ones hiding out in the badlands of his NW Pakistan. 

I have always thought that Pakistan was by far more potentially dangerous than Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan. But why are we always afraid of the messiness of heading toward liberalism? Let's throw some real weight, transparently, in support of that. 

How about a little more praise for democracy in this instance, and a little less for the opportunistic authoritarian?

I believe democracy is a universal value. This administration has poured tons of ink into speeches and declarations in support of democracy. How about some real action? Keep moving forward, inch by inch.