FROM THE DECIDER TO THE DITHERER:

Islamabad dismayed by 'dithering' US (Zahid U Kramet, 10/23/09, Asia Times)

[A]n editorial in The Wall Street Journal quoted Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Quereshi, saying in response to a question on a US pullout from Afghanistan, "This will be disastrous. You will lose credibility. If you go in, why are you going out without getting the job done? Why did you spend so many billion dollars and lose so many lives? Why did we ally with you?" And regarding the consequences, he predicted "more suicide bombings" with an emboldened Taliban, no longer pressed by coalition forces, knocking at Islamabad's doors.

This view pervades Pakistan's government circles and when such sages as the Brookings Institute's Bruce Riedel, interviewed by Bernard Gwertzman of the Council on Foreign Relations, present the perspective of an Obama perplexed over "How many troops? For what purpose? Where will they be deployed? What are the rules of engagement?" it does nothing to restore the confidence of a besieged regional ally.

In short, the fine line between "rethinking" and "dithering" to which Riedel refers, is fast fading and Obama needs to strategize on his Afghan policy now if he want to make an impact.