Maybe Musharraf will shame George Bush into running a true democracy, and conducting — for the first time in our history — free and fair elections?

Apparently, free and fair elections cannot be held without suspending the Constitution, dismissing the Supreme Court, silencing independent news stations (those not controlled by the government), and arresting political workers not of the ruling party, lawyers and human rights advocates. That’s “the best way to ensure free and fair elections”.

Bush has clearly had this democracy-exporting business ass-backwards. We are in no position to be exporting democracy to anyone. What we should do, in the spirit of humility, is open our minds and hearts, and learn from the pioneers who are forging the new definition of democracy.

Let’s not be wedded to the democracy of the past. Let’s bravely embrace the democracy of the future. Otherwise, the terrorists will surely win.