The civil society in Pakistan has taken down President Musharraf, not with military might or mass revolts, but with political pressure. Whether Musharraf is loved or hated, we have to applaud Pakistan's political maturity. They, as Bolivia did just a week ago, exercised their rights through law and politics to determine the course their country would take. The peaceful release of presidential power by Musharraf stands in stark contrast to Pakistan's long history of military coups and assassinations.

This is what democracy looks like. It is a complex system that must go beyond the right to vote, far beyond. Elections can only skim the surface of democracy. The pulls and levers, checks and balance, the right to stick with, as in Bolivia, or replace, as in Pakistan, the elected leader: this is true democracy.

What does Musharraf's resignation mean for the United States? Musharraf was a much needed ally to the U.S. in the wake of 9/11; more so than his citizens would have liked. The future of U.S.-Pakistani relations is now up in the air. For the past seven years, the current administration has invested heavily in Pakistan's unpopular leader and equally unpopular military activity in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. This strategy could backfire as Musharraf is ousted. Investing in the leader rather than the country was bad policy.

Senators Biden and Lugar are working to remedy this and build a country to country relationship with Pakistan to replace the Bush-Musharraf military alliance. The Biden-Lugar bill, introduced last month, will triple non-military aid to Pakistan. The bill focuses on strengthening civil society rather than the military by investing in education and economic development. Pakistan's civil society has proven to be active, democratic and forward-thinking; and that's something worth investing in.