-US & Pakistan “was kind of like 'friends with benefits' but it's becoming more like two sometime partners who are always suspecting that they are just being screwed and used by the other.” 10 years after US/NATO intervention and original Bonn Conference on Afghanistan, the picture has not changed much but the optimism and good vibes are gone – back then the Taliban and Al-Qaeda had been swept out of power in prompt fashion, with minimum loss of life and an Afghanistan that appeared ready to take charge and move forward. 10 years later the US, NATO and UN are still there, but resolution seems even further away. (What went wrong – that is a story for a different time: READ – “Losing Afghanistan?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/losing-afghanistan-by-ambassador-mo/36085). The photo at today’s December 5, 2011 Afghanistan Conference in Bonn is more telling by who is not there. Richard Holbrooke is gone. Michael Steiner, (Bottom photo - who coincidentally was part of Germany’s diplomatic team on the “Contact Group on Bosnia & Herzegovina,” Dayton Accord negotiations and first Deputy High Representative in Bosnia & Herzegovina), is a capable European host, but one lacking both a menu and a key guest. The Taliban are missing, but perhaps they are the type of guest you would invite but hope they do not show up. Pakistan though is a different story and relationship - and most important partner missing - yes, I said partner. Islamabad and Washington probably had different expectations of the relationship when the US entered neighboring Afghanistan. It was kind of like “friends with benefits” but it's becoming more like two sometime partners who are always suspecting that they are just being screwed and used by the other. Read: - “Are NATO & Pakistan at War?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/are-nato-pakistan-at-war-by-ambassador-mo/42142 Read: - “UN Under Attack in Afghanistan” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/un-under-attack-in-afghanistan-by-ambassador-mo/39009 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX More at: “Pakistan Channel” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/pakistan