[SunkenCiv]

IMHO we all need to keep in mind that Pakistan (like Afghanistan) isn't all one ethnic group or religious sect, that the Pakistani army is still a third world army, that it recruits from all over the country, and winds up with regional forces instead of a coherent national army. Even in the US armed forces there are sometimes problems with treason -- not only the occasional desertion, but also the case of a couple of "Black Muslims" who sabotaged some piece of equipment on their ship -- which was in the SW Pacific at the time I think -- in solidarity with their "brothers" during the first Gulf War.

The president (and virtual dictator) of Pakistan has been shot at and had things explode around him, surviving a number of assassination attempts. He's trying to maintain control. He can't single out Moslems for investigation, because the country is predominantly (97 per cent) Moslem. Eventually we'll look back on these as the Good Old Days of our relationship with Pakistan. :')

[Cronos]

that the Pakistani army is still a third world army

And what does that mean? It still operates English, French and American aircraft, tanks and other weapons.

[Cronos]

There's no such thing as a Third world army -- there is a technically developed army such as ours and the Brits and French and there are other kinds. Canada is a first world country but who do you think would win in a war between Canada and Pakistan in say Africa or even in Pakistan with no other nation helping out?

[Cronos]

IMHO we all need to keep in mind that Pakistan (like Afghanistan) isn't all one ethnic group or religious sect

The Pakis ACROSS ethnic groups support alQ. They are nearly totally slammies with the Christians a persecuted micro-minority.

[chilepepper]

not only what you say, pakistan is *really* just part of the morass that was india...