The West’s diplomatic and military budgets can only supprt a strategy of incrementalism. Politics prevents anything more forceful.

wretchard, I think it’s stronger than that, it’s more like an iron law. If you were emperor of the US and could order anything at your slightest whim – what would you do today about Pakistan?

Or, if I were emperor? I dunno, and that’s the truth.

(though my thoughts are towards a much more bellicose position with the entire dar al-Islam, starting with rhetoric, which of course is cheap enough)

Of course, we expect the CIA is well aware of the double-shuffle – that is, we hope and pray that it is well-aware, as it SHOULD be, but is sadly naive far too often in recent years. And we hope there are contingency plans on the table, if and when bad things happen. And, the 3:00AM decision still will still have to choose between them, in the event, and could go wrong in all the ways you mention. Such is life.