Escalation In Pakistan

Just so no one thinks this blog is only about the presidential race, here is a report about the state of events in a real powderkeg -- Pakistan. Apparently the attack on the Marriot Hotel on September 20th has shaken the country tremendously. (Incredibly, the entire political and military leadership of the country was going to be at the hotel, but plans changed at the last minute!) The article calls the attack Pakistan's 9-11:

like 9/11, [the attack] marks the beginning of a new battle: this time not the "war on terror", but the war by terrorists.

Pakistan is now the declared battleground in this struggle by Islamic militants to strike first against American interests before the United States' war machine completes its preparations to storm the sanctuaries of al-Qaeda in Pakistan.

The article goes on to say that U.S. and Islamist militant activity in the Northwest has risen recently and is expected to rise further -- the "gloves have come off." Also, I should note that a couple of days later Pakistani and U.S. troops exchanged fire. Then there is Pakistan's own financial meltdown. Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen!