[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

The reason we deal with Pakistan the way we do is because their nuclear arsenal is balanced on the head of a pin. Kick that pinhead out or otherwise let it be tipped and we'll have to drop everthing else we're doing and keep it from disappearing into a black hole. Musharraf is the only one with a vested interest in keeping control of it, however he double-deals with everyone and everything else. I suspect we have a complicated deal going: we don't kill him, we don't make him do anything to make Al-Qaeda kill him, we give Al-Qaeda and political rivals enough reason to keep him alive by letting them know we won't invade as long as Musharraf is in control and we get kept apprised of where the weapons are in case all else fails.

[backtothestreets]

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is likely at play in the political equation that brought Pakistan aboard as an ally. Exactly what role it plays is not being disclosed to the public, and might be much darker than what you suggested.

It could be that Pakistan has threatened to use that arsenal on India, which would trigger an immediate retaliatory response that in turn would bring a similar response from China, Pakistan's military ally in the region. Likewise, Pakistan could strike Afghanistan, Iran or Iraq and lay the blame on the US, and despite all proof to the contrary, the Muslim world would believe the false accusation. If either of these scenarios is true, it is an act of terrorism in itself.

In the meantime, Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is most likely increased over the past 5 years. The death toll upon our troops and civilian populations as a result of fighters trained in Pakistan continues to mount. And lastly, the number of terrorists unleashed on the world with Pakistani ties is an unmistakable indictment of Pakistan.