IT'S COME TO THIS – AT 10:23 A.M. ET:  Our deteriorating relationship with Pakistan apparently played into planning for the bin Laden raid, according to this report in London's Telegraph:

President Barack Obama ordered the team sent to raid Osama bin Laden's compound be large enough to fight off Pakistani forces should they intervene, according to reports.

Mr Obama raised the prospect of a clash 10 days before the May 1 raid, resulting in an extra two fighter helicopters being sent to protect the commandos raiding the compound, according to officials.

"Some people may have assumed we could talk our way out of a jam, but given our difficult relationship with Pakistan right now, the president did not want to leave anything to chance," an official told The New York Times. "He wanted extra forces if they were necessary."

The Times also reported that two teams of specialists were on standby for the mission: one to bury the al-Qaeda leader if he were killed, and another made up of lawyers, interrogators and translators in case he was captured.

It said the latter team was likely aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the North Arabian Sea.

Bin Laden was buried at sea after he was shot dead in the raid, officials have said.

COMMENT:  The slide in our relations with Pakistan has accelerated since the raid.  Yesterday the Pakistani prime minister threatened military action against American forces if we try that kind of raid again, without seeking Pakistani permission.  I suspect that this threat was mostly for internal consumption, but the fact is that there are very hostile elements within Pakistan.  It is inconceivable that someone didn't know that bin Laden was living a few blocks from Pakistan's West Point.  

Our problems with Pakistan are a reflection of our problems throughout much of the Muslim world.  Given the alarming slippage in Egypt since the revolution there only months ago, and the growing power of the Muslim Brotherwood, those problems don't seem to be getting any better.

May 10, 2011