What, Me Worry?

Yesterday, the Pentagon issued a statement that they are not worried about the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. This is a direct 180 from the concern expressed by Lt. General Carter Ham, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

A New York Times article quotes Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell as saying, "At this point, we have no concerns. ... We believe that they are under the appropriate control."

There has been some talk lately of how the US policy toward Musharraf (specifically, supporting an unpopular dictator who took power through a military coup) is similar to that of when the US stood behind the Shah in Iran for so many years. That situation, of course, led to strong anti-American sentiment among the people of Iran, which I think we're paying for right now, as will continue to for some time.

My concern with Pakistan, then, is not that Musharraf doesn't have a tight grip on his country's nuclear weapons. My concern is that the way things are going, there is a pretty good chance that he won't be in power much longer. What will become of the nuclear weapons once he is out of power? Will the US finally find out what happens when you back a dictator? If our failed policy with Iran is pushing us ever closer to another war, and has the Warmonger In Chief talking about World War III, what will happen when Musharraf is out of power, and the strong anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is backed with nuclear weapons?

Whatever the Pentagon's selling, I'm not buying.