As Musharraf prepares to get out before he is forced out, its still leaves a mixed bag as a leader. And to some extent his departure is overdue, because he wore out his welcome. But that is almost entirely counterbalanced by the fact that Musharraf somewhat of anomaly in the class of military dictators. While the average military dictator would simply just take over and be done with it, Musharraf did have faith in democracy, and as such tried to wear the two hats of a democratic leader and a military dictator, keeping democracy alive in Pakistan while lesser men would have crushed it. But time wore out the two hats, it worked for one term, it was already wearing thin by the end of the second term, and untenable by term three. But still the West must accept that the Pakistani people demanded and choose democracy.
Its almost a given that whomever replaces Musharraf will lack his experience and shrewdness. I suspect that that TGB is correct, a decidedly secular Pakistan will be far less tolerant of any US trespass or physical presence in any areas of Pakistan. And it remains to be seen how the Pakistani military will react to the ouster of Musharraf, after all, the Pakistani army is under the control of a Musharraf hand picked successor.
My final comment is that Pakistan is now at a turning point, Pregnant with opportunity while at the same time at the brink of disaster. When its kind, history comes up with a new and dynamic leader who charts a firm and clean path toward solving problems. The two objectives I would like to see Pakistan accomplish is to settle its Kashmir problems with India and getting economic development to the tribal areas of Pakistan.
What will happen under lesser leadership is anyone guess.
Because the USA does have a role in this. And yes, I agree with TGB, I do not like what the US government is doing in my name. We all have a stake in world peace, and right now, it would not take much Washington stupidity to make this whole Afghan occupation into a totally unmanageable problem while planting the seeds of future conflicts.