Condoleeza Rice has been making a tour of the Pakistan / Afghanistan region. Yes, she's been elsewhere, with a lot more public fanfare, so why pick this out? Well, things are pretty subdued right now over thataway, elections being over in Iraq and intentions for political compromises between the Shi'i and Kurds appearing with regards to the Sunnis and a newly approved F-16 sale to Pakistan. If we, for some reason, are continuing to appease Pakistan with military hardware, Musharraf's more likely to make a strong statement (read: feint for us) to his people doing a little chest-beating showing how the Americans are actually helping strengthen Pakistan while a few of our boys (CTF Thunder, CTF Longhorn) poke around the uncontrolled territories. This will be worth keeping an eye on.

India's being "angered" over the F-16 sale appears, to me, to be simply 'appropriate diplomatic response' and face saving. India's huge, they're a military might in the subcontinent and have no real reason to fear Pakistan charging over the borders with some Green Angels in formation. Pout your feet, yaar.