http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760 Remember those <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/03/terror/main4409288.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4409288">cross border raids US Special Forces</a> troops pulled off in Pakistan recently?  The good news is they reportedly bagged some bad guys.  The bad news is they might have also killed some innocent people and managed to piss the Pakistanis off more than a bit.  The significant thing is they they ushered in another new wrinkle in the War on Terror.  Accordin en-us Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:17:28 EST Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:15:22 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760#6 In my memory it goes back to the Nixon administration and Kissinger's opening towards China.  Back then (late 60s, early 70s) we were not on good terms with India which was viewed as being almost a butt buddy to the Soviets.  When things came to Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:15:22 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760#5 I hate to say it but I think you're right.  I have never been able to understand our blind loyalty to Pakistan.  It's that whole "he may be a son of a bitch but he's our son of a bitch" mentality in U.S. foreign policy that has consistently come Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:09:01 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760#4 I agree that these are serious problems which would have to be overcome in order to reach a useful agreement.  I would add that due to the urgency of the problem, which, as I have noted, is a threat to both the NATO alliance and to the government of P Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:47:11 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760#3 <i>With some suitable diplomacy (which has never been Bush's strong point) it should be possible to obtain an agreement on joint action.</i><p> The emphasis in that sentence belongs to "should" because it presumes rational negotiations. Unfortunately, dipl Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:56:36 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760#2 Pakistan has been playing the US for arms and cash while supporting terrorists for years. We should never have allied ourselves post-9/11 (even if it was an alliance of convenience) with Pakistan. I say we go after terrorists where we have actionable intel Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:51:03 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2008/9/12/124621/760#1 Since the government of Pakistan is also under attack by the same Muslim militants who are crossing the border into Afghanistan to attack NATO forces there, and to attempt to bring down the government of Afghanistan and to reinstate theocratic (and pro-ter Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:31:31 EST string http://www.treesandthings.com/search/