[techweenie]

Yesterday, Dubya met with his "personal friends" Musharraf and Nazarbayev.

Only a couple of years ago, 'freedom and democracy' was the mission of the US in the middle east.

Both of these 'friends' are basically tyrants. Suppressing opposition voices and refusing to allow elections.

Musharraf's version of the CIA -- the ISI -- is strongly suspected of ties to Osama bin Laden. Pakistani forces have been less than energetic in rooting out al Qaeda in their country, and a government official recently stated that OBL, if found, would be allowed to live there, undisturbed if he 'promised to lead a peaceful life.'

At a state dinner with Karzai and Musharraf last night, cooperation to 'defeat extremists' was discussed, but no agreement reached.

But "President Musharraf is a courageous leader and a friend of the United States" according to Dubya.

With friends like these...