* Our most problematic “ally” in the fight against Al Qaeda and all things terroristic emanating from Afghanistan is Pakistan. Here’s another sobering reminder: In Pakistan’s history, no democratically elected government has ever been succeeded by another democratically elected one.
* Iran is really, really insistent that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons. Last week a Foreign Ministry spokesman underscored it as only the Islamic Republic of Iran can underscore stuff. At a press conference, he pointed to the religious decree–or fatwa–issued by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which flat-out bans nukes. So there.
* Last week a Vietnamese court found 14 democracy activists guilty of subversion and sentenced them to jail terms ranging from three to 13 years. Officially, the United States responded with immediate criticism–and again referenced last month’s governmental detentions of human-rights bloggers. But, no, this is no threat to normal, bi-lateral relations. This is Vietnam, not Cuba.