Money quote(s):
"Unhappy at the way a journalist had portrayed the country’s defense and intelligence establishment, the Pakistani ISI murdered him, according to US intelligence"
Considering all that can be creditably attributed to the ISI over the years, this doesn't exactly stretch the horizons of disbelief.
"He was bludgeoned to death, it appears. Because of his criticism about the professionalism of the country’s security apparatus."
This sends exactly the message, to their intended audience, that they wish to send. Unfortunately for them, messages fall out of channels all the time and are read or heard by audiences unconsidered.
Consider: Saddam Hussein's deception plan, directed against Iran, to convince the Iranians that he had WMD, thus deterring aggression or attacks from Iran.
This wasn't actually stupid of Saddam, just short-sighted. He, sensibly enough, kept his focus on the more immediate threat right next door. And managed to convince a more distant but equally existential threat, leading directly to OIF.
"The gloves are well and truly off now.
I sincerely hope that our diplomatic corps is hard at work seeking transit privileges to – and more importantly from – Afghanistan through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan."
Lex is displaying his professionalism here. As Tom Clancy put it:
"(A)mateurs discuss tactics,.... Professional soldiers study logistics."
I share Lex's hope. Afghanistan is a long ways away to have to execute another anabasis.
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