Morning Joe: May 5, 2009

All Eyes on Pakistan

Stories we are following today:

• Strife in Pakistan Raises U.S. Doubts Over Nuclear Arms - David Sanger in New York Times [link]
  • "As the insurgency of the Taliban and Al Qaeda spreads in Pakistan, senior American officials say they are increasingly concerned about new vulnerabilities for Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, including the potential for militants to snatch a weapon in transport or to insert sympathizers into laboratories or fuel-production facilities."
• Pakistan Overshadows Afghanistan on U.S. Agenda - More David Sanger in New York Times [link]
  • So in the land of no good options, what are some of the possibilities that Mr. Obama can explore?
• Advances by the Taliban Sharpen U.S. Concerns - New York Times [link]
  • "Gen. James L. Jones, described the situation as “one of the very most serious problems we face.”"
• Pakistan's Critical Hour - Ahmed Rashid in the Washington Post [link]
  • "Pakistan is on the brink of chaos, and Congress is in a critical position: U.S. lawmakers can hasten that fateful process, halt it or even help turn things around."
• Moment of Truth in Pakistan - David Ignatius in the Washington Post [link]
  • "The challenge in Pakistan is eerily similar to what the Carter administration faced with Iran: how to encourage the military to take decisive action against a Muslim insurgency without destroying the country's nascent democracy."