THE U.S. bears responsibility for the suffering in Waziristan and other parts of Pakistan. In an attempt to create a little more maneuverability for itself in Afghanistan, the U.S. government has literally put a down payment on permanent Pakistani instability. The U.S. has forced the hand of the Pakistani military into a campaign that, only a few months ago, it confessed an inability to accomplish. In fact, it has been a long-held piety in Pakistani military circles that offensives in the tribal region are more trouble than they’re worth. Rush deliveries of American night-vision goggles are hardly likely to make up the difference. The other problem is that the Pakistani offensive in Waziristan is more likely to galvanize support for the Islamists in Pakistan than it is to help weaken the Taliban in Afghanistan. Full article.