The Bush administration really tried in Pakistan

I hate stories like this. Without the context of the sourcing, this may sound very different than what it really is.

The top two American intelligence officials traveled secretly to Pakistan early this month to press President Pervez Musharraf to allow the Central Intelligence Agency greater latitude to operate in the tribal territories where Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups are all active, according to several officials who have been briefed on the visit.

Were these leakers giving the NYTimes a scoop or is this an authorized "leak" intended to inoculate against the inevitable charges of inaction when a much weaker plan actually takes shape?

Instead, Pakistan and the United States are discussing a series of other joint efforts, including increasing the number and scope of missions by armed Predator surveillance aircraft over the tribal areas, and identifying ways that the United States can speed information about people suspected of being militants to Pakistani security forces, officials said.

So, instead of US strike teams and commitments of action, Pakistan is going to continue to ignore US intel that will now be supplied more quickly.

It sure is a good thing I was told by the NYTimes that the Bush administration tried to do more to stop Al Qaeda.