As resistance to the occupation of Afghanistan intensifies, the Bush administration is venting its anger against Pakistan and its military intelligence agency, the Inter-Service Intelligence.

The west must accept Russia has vital national interests in the Caucasus and the former USSR. Russia is a great power and must be afforded respect. The days of treating it like a banana republic are over.

Aside from senior army generals, the wealthy elite, and a handful of fat cat politicians, the widely hated Musharraf was left with almost no support at home.

"Old Europe" is trying to avoid a clash with Moscow, while "new Europe" - Georgia, Poland, the Czechs, and Balts - frightened of Russia's growing power, urges the US to confront Russia.