According to the Pakistan authorities, Bhutto is being held to prevent large scale demonstrations in the streets during a time when terrorist bombers are wandering around in the cities. Whether this is a good idea is subject to debate, or whether or not that's the real reason, but that's the rationale being given. She isn't being prevented from communicating.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan army is routinely getting its ass kicked in straight-on battles with the Taliban. In such battles, the U.S. military routinely wipes the floor with the enemy.

If you think Pakistan is rotten under Musharaff, wait until the Taliban and al Qaeda are in charge. If Bhutto thinks house arrest sucks, she still might find it an improvement over kneeling on a soccer field with a gun barrel to the back of her head. I've heard there are contingency plans for getting the nukes out of the picture if the shit hits the fan, but I'd really hate to bet on that.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan...

This is what will run Pakistan if things don't go well. With luck, Bhutto and Musharaff can steer a course that leads to better government before the radicals take over the country. Unfortunately, there really isn't much the rest of the world can do to help at this point.