If you have to choose a scripting language, why would you choose Python?
I think it depends on your definition of scripting language. There are (at least) two camps. One is that scripting language should be embeddable, so the core should be small (like Lua or Tcl). The second camp is scripting for system administration, and Perl is definitely in this camp. 
Python is a general programming language, not particularly in either camp (but also not unsuitable), probably most useful for writing small or medium sized programs.
What makes Python a good scripting language?