Al Qaeda's ideological appeal to undermine Pakistan's military is quite possibly a real threat (tip to Instapundit):
Going forward in the global conflict before us, it is important to acknowledge and understand that al-Qaeda is currently engaged in an Information Operation (IO) campaign inside Pakistan. This is in addition to its efforts to gain influence outside of Pakistan, particularly with Muslims in Europe, the Middle East and in the US. The primary target of the Pakistan campaign is the Pakistani military and it is driven by al-Qaeda’s accelerating insurgency inside Pakistan. Understanding how and why al-Qaeda has undertaken this effort allows decision makers greater understanding of al-Qaeda’s aims and equips them with a ‘lay of the land’ required to counter al-Qaeda’s message and objectives.
Pakistan's physical power to destroy the jihadis is dominant right now. Al Qaeda's ability to undermine the Pakistani security forces will take time to achieve, if they can do this. But Pakistan holds back out of fear that destroying the jihadis will turn more Pakistanis into active jihadis.
But the soft approach hasn't eliminated al Qaeda and just gives these nutcases opportunity to undermine Pakistan's population and security forces. Their mere survival demonstrates Pakistani weakness and encourages the jihadis.
All the more reason Pakistan should go on the offensive now in the face of al Qaeda's declaration of war and use their manpower and firepower advantage to kill al Qaeda while they can localize the jihadis in remote border regions.
