“I just don’t see how killing Al-Queda where they’re holed up inside the border of Pakistan is going to destabilize Pakistan’s goverment because said government has absolutely no say over what goes on there any way.”
But the fellows along the border have a lot of, ah input, lets say, into the government of Pakistan.

“Too much overt interference in Pakistan could throw it into revolution, with militant Islamists rising to power (as they are the most ruthless among the factions).”
Well we’ve had a lot of the overt with little positive but also not too much negative impact, that is till the last two years. The Pakistani’s will have to decide to estabilish the rule of Pakistani law in the NW. Once they have come to that conclusion they will accept our help, but not until. I think it is becoming evident to the majority of Pakistanis what the problem is. The solution will require some very tough decisions. No matter what they decide Pakistan is in for a rough ride, a very rough ride. IMO.

I think if it was not published, the thought would be to brush it under the rug and pretend it never happened

I am afraid that it will have the opposite effect. Also, The french generally are not so sure about the support of their troops efforts in Afghanistan, and equipment that our troops list as essential, a spare radio, have not easily deemed as essential by the french troops. This should change, if they choose to stay engaged.

When Putin poisened the Ukranian President, I had no doubt. Belsan was not the result of being weak, but rather of being militarily and politically stupid. The Chechnians producing Sunni Jihadi’s have a greater affinity for Bin Ladin and certain citizens of the KSA. It was the House of Saud that gave approval for the very rough tactics of the Russians in putting down the Chechnian insurgency, Iran and it is KSA that Putin owes not Iran. What the significance of the more permanent relations between Russia and Iran concerning Pakistan and Iran are not so obvious.