Things are getting more desperate in Pakistan- not a good thing when a destabilized country is in possession of nuclear weapons...

Rice and Bush need to continue to "encourage" Musharraf to return to civilian rule but it is likely that Musharraf is concerned that free elections won't be free and there is a real risk of takeover by Islamic extremists. His allegation that activist judges, who have determined that Musharraf must step down as President when his current term expires, are undermining his efforts to fight the terrorists who seek increased control in the country are spurring him on.

This very complicated situation has international implications. (See Washington post article.)

How do we know who we can trust in Pakistan? The press reports that attorneys are being arrested. Do we know if these attorneys seek freedom and democracy or support rule by fundamentalists? I hope the human rights activists really do seek more freedom for the people and are not people who seek to further Islamic rule in Pakistan.

How do the people in Pakistan know who they can trust?

We should all hope the situation doesn't deteriorate further and that Musharraf works with people like Benazir Bhutto to ensure the survival of a free and democratic Pakistan.