NSC Official: We want "to avoid an anti-Pakistan overreaction in the US..."

"... (On US-Pakistan relations) an NSC oficial out it to us privately: "We look at the same events and arrive at diametrically opposed interpretations. One urgent task for us will be to avoid an anti-Pakistan overreaction in the US." The more immediate impact for President Obama, however, is domestic. The succesful operation has given his embattled Administration an impressive boost.... (but) Without doubt the euphoria will wear off and the ongoing battle over the federal budget will return Obama to earth, but for the moment he is riding high -- albeit not for the reason evisioned by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. We do not anticipate, however, that the Administration will re-engage vigorously in the Middle East oeace process. An immediate debate is taking place on possible changes to Afghan policy, with familiar voices urging the Administration to seize the moment either to accelerate the drawdown or to push home the fight against the Taliban. From our conversations with senior US officials, our judgment is that efforts will quicken to find a political settlement that will allow a step-by-step US withdrawal..."