Is Karzai on his way out?

Treat this the interpretation as rumor, but the meeting, especially without a direct Karzai representative, is interesting.

Four key figures believed to be challenging Mr Karzai have arrived in Washington for meetings with Obama administration officials this week. There is now talk of a "dream ticket" that would see the main challengers run together to unite the country's various ethnic groups and wrest control away from Mr Karzai.

And, a first "Obama" missile strike in Pakistan.