"The U.S. Special Operations Command, reportedly planning to “vastly expand” its presence in Pakistan, referred my request for details to the U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for the region. A spokesman there likewise said he could provide no information. Continuing to call Pakistan a U.S. ally is bizarre, if compulsory. The problem we face there is simple, even if the solution is not: They don’t like us. The Pakistani army and intelligence services like getting our money, guns and jet fighters, the better to prepare themselves for another war with India. As far as mobilizing against insurgents in the tribal areas, though, most of the $10 billion in aid Washington has given Pakistan since Sept. 11, 2001, seems to have disappeared down a rat hole. During a recent visit to the border region, an American official found members of the Frontier Corps, which is scheduled for $350 million more in aid this year, “standing there in the snow in sandals” and armed with bolt-action rifles." (thanks Jeff)