In Pakistan Hillary Clinton said "There are still additional steps that we are asking and expecting the Pakistanis to take. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that should an attack against the United States be traced to be Pakistani it would have a very devastating impact on our relationship."

It sounds like she is saying either "we have evidence that Pakistanis were involved in 9/11 but we will ignore that evidence in favor of good relations" or "we know specific Pakistanis who are still closely allied with Al Qaida and those people have to go".

The comment was attached to a generous financial aid deal, but what effect will that have in practical terms? Pakistanis resent American aid and there is already a national undertone of "smile at the Americans until they are gone". Instead of encouraging good relations the combination of aid and tough talk may be priming the Pakistanis to push against American influence.