WHY IS THE WORLD MORE CONCERNED with Musharraf’s coup than with Hugo Chavez’s emerging dicatatorship? Because enemies of the United States, like Chavez, get a pass.

Sadly, he’s right. While Hugo Chávez gets fêted by Hollywood celebrities for his dictatorial takeover of Venezuela, Musharraf—who at least has some legitimate reason for his crackdown—is deeply criticized.

For some, it’s fine to be a dictator, just so long as you’re the right kind of dictator.

UPDATE: Reason highlights how Hugo Chávez pulled the wool over the world’s eyes as he slowly destroyed Venezuelan democracy.