Ran in The Tennessean:

Sen. Corker's support of Musharraf puzzling

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf blames former prime minister Benazir Bhutto for her own assassination. He then warns the United States that it will be met with fierce retaliation if it dares to cross into Pakistan in its search for Osama bin Laden. Meanwhile, he admits that finding the central figure in our so-called "global war on terror" is a very low priority for his struggling government.

Yet, on the pages of this fine publication, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., finds reasons that Musharaff is "(dedicated) to this cause and the future security of Pakistan in eradicating terrorism" ("Stand by Musharraf to aid democracy," Jan. 9).

Sen. Corker supports a man that has declared martial law on his own people and threw out the Supreme Court that stood in his way to do so. He has held political dissidents, including the late Bhutto under house arrest for opposing his rule.

It is time that we be much more selective in our allies in our battle against the common threats of the 21st century and hold tyrants accountable for their actions.