PAKISTAN HEADACHES - AT 9:13 A.M. ET:  This story is sneaking up on us, but it could have major implications in a very short while.  From The New York Times:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan is objecting to expanded American combat operations in neighboring Afghanistan, creating new fissures in the alliance with Washington at a critical juncture when thousands of new American forces are arriving in the region.

Pakistani officials have told the Obama administration that the Marines fighting the Taliban in southern Afghanistan will force militants across the border into Pakistan, with the potential to further inflame the troubled province of Baluchistan, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.

COMMENT:  This creates the old "fight with one hand tied behind our back" problem.  One of the tragedies of both Korea and Vietnam was that we allowed sanctuaries for our enemies.  If Pakistan gets its way, we'll have to restrict operations, tying one hand again.  We'll be watching this.  Pakistan is key to our efforts to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

July 22, 2009