Tripping the Light Fantastic

If there is any hope for Af/Pak land, it doesn't include an Israeli attack against Iran. Indeed, I continue to be amazed that public discussion of the fallout of such an attack doesn't automatically generate scenarios regarding Af/Pak. These are not separate boxes. An Israeli attack on Iran doesn't affect just Iraq and the Gulf states. The fact is, such an attack would seriously undermine all U.S. policy in the Af/Pak area and further destabilize what many informed analysts are calling the most unstable situation in Pakistan in many decades. I'm sure that the State Department is telling the Israelis, "No Way!" I'm not so sure the Israelis are capable of listening, though I'm inclined to think that for their own reasons they're not going to strike. We'll see. In any case, whenever some pundit beats the drum for Israel to attack Iran — which happens all too often — somebody should ask them if they really want a Pakistani nuclear device (or devices) in the hands of Islamist extremists.