As you have pointed out, looking at the world through the eyes of ideology rather than dealing with reality will create chaos. As reality marches on, inappropriate, ideologically based actions only create more chaos.

Musharraf was thrown into the lion's den by the US demanding he support the "war on terror" against the best interests of his people. Armitage threatening to "bomb Pakistan back to the Stone Age" is a wonderful line for neocons but will not create a stable situation.

The art of diplomacy is to create situations perceived on both sides as winning. The inappropriate use of force appeals to adolescent narcissism, but does not lead to solutions which are viable.

58,000 Americans died in Vietnam, and neocons learned absolutely nothing.

Thanks, Publius, for the analysis, and it's great to read you again. As you can see, not much has changed here. The neocons show no shame, continue to publish the same nonsense year after year. (It will be interesting to see their shift after Bush endorses global warming.)

Arf