Deteriorating Pakistan

Although this story is being well-covered in the mainstream media, I am including it so you can follow the story that began with the Pakistani government ceding control of the Swat valley to jihadists. Now those same Islamist groups are within 60 miles of the capital.

This is dreadful news, and not clear what the United States can or should do about it. For starters, though, it would probably be wise to delay some of the assistance that has been promised Pakistan, at least until it's clear the Pakistani government has committed itself to what is truly a life-or-death struggle with the Islamists. Secretary of State Clinton's contradictory remarks on the subject suggest that she has little confidence that the government will indeed rise to the challenge.