The Bush administration has announced a new $750 million aid package for development and security in Pakistan's northwest, where the tribal areas are thought to be a staging ground for Islamist militant attacks both into Afghanistan and increasingly within Pakistan. Islamabad will be pleased by the failure of a measure pushed by US senators Joe Biden and John Kerry, which would have made demonstrated progress on democratic reform and gains against the Islamists a criteria for future military aid. A similar measure is still pending in the House. (Madrid11.net, Dawn, March 16)

How long before the brave new xenophobes start calling Washington a "Pakistan-Occupied Government" (POG)?

See our last posts on Pakistan.