Gallegly is no statesman abroad

On the day after President Pervez Musharraf's party was soundly defeated in the Pakistani election, Congressman Elton Gallegly left a delegation to Israel to pay Musharraf a visit.

This visit, at taxpayer expense, sends a message contrary to the Bush administration's claim that a key objective of U.S. foreign policy is to spread democracy around the world.

Musharraf is a dictator who declared himself president after a coup in 1999. He has abolished the Pakistani Supreme Court and has been implicated in the exile and deaths of political rivals.

The U.S. has paid him handsomely since 9/11 to aid us in the search for Osama bin Laden, who's believed to reside in Pakistan. Musharraf has either been unwilling or unable to do so, as his token efforts have had little effect on Taliban and alQaida activities from their base in Pakistan.

Gallegly acknowledges the importance of our developing relationships with the newly elected ruling parties in Pakistan, yet he didn't meet with any representatives of those parties during his visit. Next time, let's send a statesman to Pakistan. Nick Fotheringham Thousand Oaks