Bad choices

The Asia Times reporter Syed Saleem Shahzad points out that Pakistan's government has nothing but bad alternatives to choose from.

If it goes after LET, a client organization of the military if there ever was one, it risks uniting them with the Pakistan Taliban:

In this anarchic situation, the Jamaatut Dawa (LET), with its well-defined vertical command structure under the single command of Saeed, could commit its several thousand members, virtually a para-military force, to the cause of the anti-state al-Qaeda-linked Pakistani militants.

If it doesn't, it is risking a military confrontation with India, and will have to do so without any support from the US. That could end with the disolution of the Pakistani state.

It wouldn't surprise me if there was a coup in the near future. That might be the only thing that would allow a breathing space to develop by focusing attention inwards. Zardari and Gilani have to listen to the people to bolster their shaky political positions, and in these situations the people have a tendency to let emotions cloud their judgment.

Also, Rabia at Grand Trunk Road has some good links and interesting commentary on the nature of Pakistani politics.