so as to neutralize the growing anti-American sentiments sweeping across the restive region along the Afghanistan border

In my opinion, as long as the Pushtuns in this region keep agreeing that this IS the Afghanistan border, then we should shut up and thank our lucky stars.

This is not corporate branding we're doing. Economic development is the only thing that's going to stem the tide of terrorism and extremism and obliterate the threat of a Pushtun nationalist movement -- something that could destroy Pakistan entirely.

If we achieve those goals, then who cares about branding? Branding is so beside the point here, really. What matters is that the development is happening. It's the fact of the development, not the logo on the development, that is going to turn things in our favor.

Case in point -- look what economic development done for the "Irish problem." Anyone in London killed by an IRA bomb lately? Has Ulster been an issue lately? Have any Irish terrorists been demanding its return?

The economy has become so strong there that interest in reuniting Ireland has all but died away.

And now the U.S. is not even allowed to take credit for the schools it helps to build? Shouldn't someone be held accountable?

The geniuses who put together the Durrand Treaty ought to be thanked for this awful mess, but since they're dead, I guess that's no longer possible.

Then there's Nixon and his buddy the Shah of Iran, who helped overthrow the Afghan monarchy and replace it with a dictator who lusted after northern Pakistan and sacrificed the economic development of Afghanistan to chase his nationalist dream.

And then there's the Soviet Union. We can thank the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for the fact that northern Pakistan became overrun with tribal Afghan Pushtuns who didn't believe Pakistan was a legitimate political entity.

And there's America. We already established a strong USA brand presence in the border regions during the Soviet-Afghan war. We empowered the Afghan refugees who flowed across the border into Pakistan -- the ones who didn't believe that Pakistan ought to exist.

But we empowered them with Stringer missiles, not with schools or dams or hospitals. Oops.

And then how did they thank us? Their children all joined the Taliban and flowed back into Afghanistan and turned Afghanistan into a safe haven for the Arabs in Al Qaeda. Oops.

Accountability? Come on, get real. Removal of the USA logo is about the least significant accountability issue you can find in this mess.

Right now I think we need to suck it up, keep our eyes on the prize, get those little kids educated, get their parents gainfully employed, and wait patiently for the magic of economic development to do its work.

Benazir Bhutto was an official Taliban supporter in 1996. She helped them get money and arms so they could take over Afghanistan.

She proudly helped to create the problem she's now angrily blaming Musharraf for having failed to solve.

I think we should forget about national branding and Pakistani politics and just focus on economic development and pray that this will eventually turn things around the way it helped turn things around for the Irish terrorism problem.

The people from NORML, the pot legalization crowd, show up to ask about medical marijuana.

So you writers in Salon ARE allowed to mention that medical marijuana exists!!! Wow that's an enormous breakthrough.

Next time you might try telling us where the candidates stand on the issue? I see no reason why this information should be kept such a closely guarded secret here.

If you guys disagree with all the science that supports medical marijuana -- then just be open about that and publish your disagreement openly in Salon so that the supporters have an honest chance to show you people just how wrong you all are.

For example, Alzheimer's -- the science on that is pretty amazing. Blocks amyloid plaques almost 100%, compared with only about 30% from Aricept.

I feel guilty every day that I don't raise awareness about the potential of marijuana to combat Alzheimer's and demand further research.

It's too bad that Salon takes the position that it does. You position seems to be that medical marijuana is just a smokescreen for legalization. That's how I read your coverage. The pattern is there.

I think you're hurting people. Honestly. I think you people ought to reconsider, because the ignorance about this drug is hurting a lot of people.

I oppose most if not all of the President's policies but I think hatred is a waste of my precious spleen. A spleen is a terrible thing to waste.

But really, the right was so childishly hateful towards Clinton, and always looking, looking, looking for more reasons to hate him.

Yes, it's the same way many people on the left treat Bush now. Doesn't make it right in either case.

And while they were busy hating on Bill Clinton, Benazir "I'm one and only chance Pakistan has for democracy" Bhutto was busy funding the Taliban and sending them into Afghanistan to take over and "stabilize" the country.

Clinton at least had the excuse of being preoccupied with the chaos that followed the dismantling of Soviet power.

What excuse did the Republicans have?

They were too busy hating on Clinton to notice the Taliban marching into Kabul.

You know what they could have done? They could have sucked up their hatred and paid attention to Afghanistan and demand very loudly that Clinton pay attention to it too.

But I don't hate them for that. I just feel sad for all the Taliban's victims.

Clothing was the earliest means people had for constructing social class. Fashion is about power. There's nothing silly or frivolous about it.

One day you're going to have to relinquish your relationship with this planet. That's what those lines are saying. The time you have left to learn about the world is shrinking. It's time to stop looking at your own face and start looking at more important things.