“maybe pakistan will break into several pieces, with the tribal lands being given to afghanistan. then all of a sudden issues of sovereignty take on a different hue, with respect to u.s. forces hunting there.”

US guys in Waziristan are still US guys in Warziristan. The PakMil got their asses kicked and they’re Pakis, for crying out loud. They can and do pass for locals.

To be kept in mind is that Karzai has to do just what Musharraf did – namely, apologizing/begging for eternal forgiveness for any and all civilians – or “civilians” – killed.

We have far greater ability to act in Afghanistan. But the same basic domestic political constraints apply there as well.