ARTICLE: In Scramble for Cash, Pakistan Turns to China's Deep Reserves, By Anthony Faiola and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post, October 16, 2008; Page A01

Pakistan, a faltering democracy of sorts, gets in trouble financially and to whom does it turn? China, the Saudis and the UAE, three big non-Western holders of dollars right now. Not exactly the league of democracies to the rescue, huh? And yet, is this not a huge help at a very dangerous time?

We head into a time of great realism, meaning we need cautious and calculating and clever leadership--not hair-trigger-pullers.