A lesson from Iran for U.S.-Pakistan Relations?

Having a Dictator who poses as President of Pakistan but acts as General of the country's armed forces as an Ally in the war against terror is the latest in a long string of foreign policy failures for the George W. Bush administration.

When one looks back at U.S. relations with the former Shah of Iran, it is eerily similar to present day circumstances in Pakistan. The United States had developed an ally in Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi who ruled Iran from 1941 to 1979. Similar to Pakistan, the U.S. looked the other way when it came to domestic issues and human rights violations within Iran.

The Shah was overthrown and radical cleric Ayatollah Khomeini rose to power and installed an Islamic government in Iran. The former Shah was exiled and upon his entry into the United States for medical treatment, angry Iranians seized the U.S. embassy and took 55 Americans hostage.

Ever since the overthrow of the Shah, the U.S. - Iran relationship has been more or less non existent and anti-U.S. sentiment has become entrenched among many in Iran. Today, President Bush has branded Iran one of the countries that are part of his "axis of evil" and he refuses to have any diplomatic relations or dialogue with Iran. Recently, President Bush encouraged the U.S. Congress to pass a resolution labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Army a terrorist organization leading some to suspect his intent is to go to war with Iran over their suspected nuclear development program.

The situation in Pakistan appears to be getting worse with Lawyers who have demonstrated against Musharraf's action beaten and arrested. Benazir Bhutto who had hoped for a shared power arrangement with Musharraf upon her return to Pakistan is calling for more demonstrations and labeling him a Dictator. Her hopes to be elected Prime Minister in January are now a question mark.

It is certainly a possibility that General Musharraf may not be able to continue in power. The continued support by the U.S. of a Dictator with the huge sums of funding being sent to Pakistan could result in similar anti-U.S. sentiment that occurred in Iran and still exists today.

Pakistan is reported to have operational nuclear missiles. It is critical for Pakistan to have a swift return to the rule of law and have constitutionally held elections as soon as possible.

If a change in leadership occurs lets hope it is done without loss of life and it is a regime change that believes in the rule of law.