There’s virtually no real danger of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists or other undesirables even if Musharraf suddenly takes an involuntary one-way ride into the political sunset. As an NYT article pointed out last week, despite the spin the Bush administration has been putting out for several years now, political uncertainties in Pakistan do not realistically translate into any doubts or qualms about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal:

While remote areas in northwestern Pakistan remain a haven for Al Qaeda and other Islamic militants, senior officials at the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon now say they recognize that the Pakistani Army remains a powerful force for stability in Pakistan, and that there is little prospect of an Islamic takeover if General Musharraf should fall.

The army is safely in control of Pakistan’s nukes. No matter who assumes power after Mush, and how, the army will still be the most powerful institution in Pakistan, and will remain safely in control of Pakistan’s nukes.

Nevertheless, in the last few week or so, the administration has decided to hype this fear again. Probably because a) it’s the only defense they can put forward in support of their bankrupt policy of continuing to stand behind Pervez Musharraf, and b) that’s what they do best, hype groundless fears.

Of the world’s nine declared and undeclared nuclear arsenals, none provokes as much worry in Washington as Pakistan’s, numerous U.S. officials said. …
[…]
Anytime a nation with nuclear weapons experiences “a situation such as Pakistan is at present, that is a primary concern,” said Lt. Gen. Carter Ham, director of operations for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a Pentagon news conference last week.

That’s pretty high level fear-mongering, isn’t it?

And lo, Mush himself is now trumpeting this claim in his own defense. It’s dangerous to oppose his plan to suspend the Constitution and civil rights in order that free and fair elections can be held, because if elections are held the old-fashioned way then “dangerous elements” could come to control Pakistan’s nukes. Which, of course, means that every two-bit Islamo-fascist household will end up with a suitcase bomb under their bed. (While under our beds will be us, cowering. Of course, some of us are already there.)

Looks like somebody got through to Mush finally, doesn’t it? Maybe Condi and Mush are finally on the same page? Will Condi one day soon blushingly refer to Mush as her husband (instead of Bush)? How will Bush then react? Stay tuned, while this ménage a trios heats up.