C. GATSBY'S Weblog: "you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free. John 8:32

The U.S. government's problem with Pakistan is similar to the one it had with Iran in 1979. The U.S. government placed Iranian Shah Reza Pahlavi in power in 1953, which extinguished the rising flames of democracy. This resulted in a populist Islamic revolution and extreme anti-American sentiment. Now, Pakistan's brutal dictator, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is facing a populist uprising.

The United States has supported Musharraf for years and continues to straddle both sides of the fence. It preaches democracy but has a long history of providing support to dictators. The U.S. government must practice what it preaches and stop enabling dictators.

The United States also should have supported former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned to Pakistan after eight years of exile. She, unlike Musharraf, is pro-democracy, pro-fair election and is against al-Qaeda. Bhutto has stated she would wage immediate war on the al-Qaeda sanctuaries that are ignored and, in some cases, protected by Musharraf.

Christian Gatsby

Philadelphia

(appeared in USA TODAY)

America's Pakistan problem is similar to what transpired 28 years ago in Iran. America placed the Shah Pahlavi in power in 1953, which extinguished the rising flames of democracy. America then, for decades, encouraged the shah's brutal, dictatorial reign, which eventually resulted in a populist Islamic revolution and extreme anti-American sentiment. Now, Pakistan's brutal dictator, who has been aided and supported for years by America, is facing a populist uprising, which may create instability in the region.

America has straddled both sides of the fence and continues to do so. We preach democracy, yet we have a long history of providing support and aid to dictators and monarchs (e.g. Gen. Augusto Pinochet, Ferdinand Marcos, Saddam Hussein in the 1980s and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf), only to have it backfire in our faces.

America must practice what it preaches universally and stop enabling dictators. We should always support and nourish democracies and democratic movements. America should have been a solid supporter of Benazir Bhutto while the former prime minister was in exile and should have encouraged her return to Pakistan. Bhutto, unlike Musharraf, is pro-democracy, pro-fair election and extremely anti-al-Qaida. She has said she would wage immediate war on the al-Qaida sanctuaries that are ignored and, in some cases, protected by the current Pakistani dictator.

America must stop sleeping in bed with dictators and monarchs and embrace democratic leaders.

Christian Gatsby