The BBC is reporting that Pakistan’s lovable despot General Musharrif made a speech after the bloody battle with extremists in Lal Masjid that included the ominous warning to radical Muslims that he would “not allow any madrassa to be used for extremism.”

In other words, play time’s over, knuckle under or I’ll make Lal Masjid look like nap time in a New England pre-school.

Not a moment too soon if you ask me, but though I’ll enjoy watching Musharrif crack some bearded heads I’m not under any illusion as to why the General is taking action now. The radicals have forced his hand, most recently kidnapping Chinese nationals, and the last thing a semi-Fascist government wants is the world’s most powerful Communist dictatorship getting irked at elements within their country.

Read the report from the BBC, but be warned they put the inevitable English spin on any victory over Islamists.

UPDATE: China Confidential has more on China’s growing concerns with Islamism.