Where the Grass is Greener

We continue to be distracted from the bigger trends in the war. The murder of Bhutto is a discreet event that is easier to discuss than the wider trend. While she is certainly a symbol of democracy and might have been important in restoring democracy in Pakistan, her corruption when she was a politician is one reason that democracy is not a part of Pakistan's civic life right now.

The trend is that the jihadis in Iraq are losing and the jihadis are turning on Pakistan as their primary target. As part of this shift of attention, the Iranians are shifting their resources east:

While the government has backed off on support for anti-American terrorism in Iraq, support for the Taliban in Afghanistan is another matter. Iran appears to have accepted defeat in Iraq, but still believed the Taliban had a shot in Afghanistan. This is not popular in Iran, because people remember the years of anti-Taliban propaganda, which simply reminded everyone of the widespread atrocities the Taliban committed against Shia Afghans.

The Taliban in Afghanistan will surely welcome this increased support but the Taliban are looking further east as well. The last jihad is being waged right now and the murder of Bhutto is just part of this crisis and not the entire crisis.