Independence Day — For Criminals!

A.Q. Khan / AP photo
Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan recovers from prostate cancer treatment. AP photo.

I see that Edward Gomez at SFGate.com has already noted another bizarre juxtaposition of stories:

Around the world, it’s summertime for criminals! Throw another shrimp on the barbie!

In the U.S., George W. Bush, Jr., with a stroke of his omnipotent pen, has pardoned [well, commuted -DP] Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s one-time top aide. Now, Libby, who committed perjury [and obstruction of justice] in a court case that investigated the violation of national-security law (in the revelation of the name of a former C.I.A. agent), will not have to go to jail. The faithful Republican has been rewarded for taking a hit for his most senior bosses – and has learned that crime pays.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, where the U.S.-backed, democracy-crushing regime of dictator-general-president Pervez Musharraf has been increasingly, openly challenged by opponents demanding real democratic reform, reports have surfaced “that the government had eased restrictions on disgraced nuclear scientist A. Q. Khan.”