mg you're sort of helping me with my point. When Pres. Ford made that statement about Poland he was clearly suffering a mid-debate brain fart, for which he paid heavily. I don't think for a moment given time and consideration he would have said what he said. It's a genuine case of mis-speak.

Obama is trying to make some political hay and establish himself as a would-be 'player'. He is betting that his gains will exceed his losses, politically.

As for our 'ally' Pakistan, in a part of the world where the US is trying to establish democracy, it is a military controlled state which has enabled the greatest dissemination of nuclear weapons technology in two generations...it has made a peace treaty with Al Qaeda. Afghanistan does not look upon Pakistan with great affection as a sanctuary for elements of the Taliban. And the present US government had no qualms about calling up the leader of Pakistan and out-and-out threatening him and his country to secure his cooperation.

So, while I have reservations about Obama as stated above, his little aside about Pakistan should not be blown out of proportion, although I'm sure it will be, like Howard Dean's little war whoop.