Anti-U.S. sentiments are already seething in nuclear-armed Pakistan, as is popular hatred for the Bush administration's "indispensible" ally in its so-called war on terror, the former dictator and army chief, President Pervez Musharraf.

Yet there's President Bush calling Musharraf to give him a reassuring pat on the back as Musharraf faces growing pressure to resign.

"The president reiterated the United States' strong support for Pakistan and he indicated he looked forward to President Musharraf's continuing role in further strengthening U.S.-Pakistani relations," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

No matter how the White House spins it, Bush's call will be seen by most Pakistanis as yet more confirmation that the U.S. is out to shore up Musharraf in defiance of the results of free and fair elections in February in which Musharraf's political allies were trounced by an opposition coalition led by the party of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Administration officials will undoubtedly point to that bit about Bush reiterating "strong support for Pakistan" and say that the president was just expressing his hope that Musharraf won't make things worse as the new coalition continues to self-destruct over what to do about him and the dozens of judges he purged last year. (The silence on that issue of an administration that portrays itself as a defender of democracy is a prime reason why the U.S. is so disliked.)

Yet under Pakistan's constitution, foreign policy is made by the elected federal government and the president is largely a ceremonial figurehead.

So why is Bush urging Musharraf to continue playing a key role in guiding the county's most important foreign relationship?