The ambitious US$1 billion plan of the United States to expand its presence in Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad underscores Washington's resolve to consolidate its presence in the region, particularly in pursuit of the endgame in the "war on terror".

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In January 2002, Pervez Musharraf leveraged the Taliban link to get tens of billions and immunity from from US scrutiny for Pakistan; this week Zardari did a repeat on Obama

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The US throws money at the Pakistani regime, trusting that all will be well at the end of the extravaganza. The great and good in Washington have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.

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Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States has sought to help Pakistan transform itself into a stable, prosperous, and democratic state that supports U.S.

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For years the U.S. has attempted to mold Pakistan. The result is not pretty: an unstable, undemocratic state which possesses nuclear weapons, border provinces which offer safe haven to Taliban and al-Qaeda forces, and a people which loath the American government.

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The U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said Tuesday that the Bush administration would fight efforts to curb billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Pakistan while warning President Pervez Musharraf that he must support and promote democracy.

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