Reply #74: Pakistan getting a grip on itself is in our national interest.

[Efilroft Sul]

Whether Pakistan is rooting out al Qaeda on its frontier with Afghanistan, or securing its nuclear arsenal, or restoring democracy, what Pakistan should be doing is in our interest. And not just American interests, but its neighbors' national interests as well.

The problems with Pakistan could very well exist past the Bush administration. What are you going to do if a Democrat is elected President in 2008? He or she is going to have to handle these matters realistically, and he or she is going to have the same national interests with Pakistan that I cited above. Just because the President won't be Bush isn't going to make our foreign policy magically righteous, and he or she isn't going to cause Islamic militants lay down their arms after an oath of office is taken.

Look beyond Bush. My concerns about Pakistan aren't about political grandstanding but national security.