COUNTDOWN TO PAKISTAN

[mburbank]

The United States appears to be gearing up for some sort of major military operation in Pakistan.

I assume this is with Musharifs knowledge and permission, and seeing as Al Quaeda has tried to kill him twice, I can hardly say I'm surprised.

My question: What strategic value is there in leaking this to the press? Surely we intend Al Quaeda to know about this, the sources for the article are all military (Though unamed) . Is this some sort of bizarre bluff? If so, why? If not, why give them advance warning?

Is it perhaps some sort of test balloon to see what Pakistans reaction is, both official and unofficial, to the US military conducting war operations inside Pakistan? Is it a really great idea to do this sort of cage rattling with a country precariously controlled by it's own military?

I think it's very much in our interests to keep Musharif alive, but what's all this screwing around supposed to do? Pakistan actually HAS WMD, fucking around might not end up being as amusing as Iraq has been.