Debt Comes Due

President Bush knew he was incurring a political debt when he coopted the Pakistani dictatorship of Pervez Musharraf into his coalition against terrorism. Now part of that debt is coming due.

Musharraf is only a step above Saddam Hussein in the rankings of autocratic odiousness, and Nicholas Kristof unleashes a scathing torrent in Musharraf's direction on the NYTimes editorial page today. He does so not without good reason: his friend Mukhtaran Bibi, a victim of tribal "justice" turned human rights activist, has been kidnapped by the government and prevented from leaving the country or contacting anyone outside.

According to Dawn, a Karachi newspaper, the government took this step, "fearing that she might malign Pakistan's image." Excuse me, but Ms. Mukhtaran, a symbol of courage and altruism, is the best hope for Pakistan's image. The threat to Pakistan's image comes from President Musharraf for all this thuggish behavior.

Indeed. And props to Kristof for using his bully pulpit with such unmitigated zeal for truth, justice, and individual rights. As for Mr. Bush, his debt is indeed due. Either he alienates Musharraf by following Kristof's recommendation of standing up for Ms. Mukhtaran, or he has to swallow his vomit and turn a blind eye on a flagrant abuse of power.