Pakistan and the STRONG HORSE

In his own words at his celebration dinner, bin Laden laid out bluntly his theory of power: "When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse."

Boston Globe:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Defying a warning from Washington, Pakistan's prime minister promised yesterday to go ahead with a plan to import natural gas from Iran even if the United States levies additional sanctions against the Mideast country.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani made his comments two days after the US special envoy to Pakistan, Richard C. Holbrooke, cautioned Pakistan not to "overcommit'' itself to the deal because it could run afoul of new sanctions against Iran Congress is finalizing.

The deal has been a constant source of tension between Pakistan and the United States, with Pakistan arguing that it is vital to its ability to cope with an energy crisis and the United States stressing that it would undercut international pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

Gilani said Pakistan would reconsider the deal if it violated UN sanctions, but the country was "not bound to follow'' unilateral US measures. He said media reports that quoted him as saying that Pakistan would heed Holbrooke's warning were incorrect.

Aren't we glad of their principled stand against state terror? Aren't we glad of their alliance and help in Waziristan?

Why are these results, so obvious to so many, so incomprehensible and so unforeseeable to our president and his administration?

What other irresolute, or unfriendly nations afraid previously to be who they are, lurk, making plans to move closer to the strong horse?

What neutral nations prepare to become somewhat unfriendly?

What friendly, but weak nations will seek to show how neutral they are?

Why is this all not obvious to the man who took the oath in Jan 2009?

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