The Current Discussion: Are the U.S. and Europe right to recognize Kosovo and continue to poke Russia with a stick?
In the summer of 2006, I rode a bus through the winding mountain roads from Sarajevo to Podgorica sitting next to a young Montenegrin studying medicine in Bosnia. It was his first trip home since his country gained its independence. While many believed Montenegro's secession from Serbia was inevitable, the young man spoke of his country using the kind of poetry one might use to describe their lover. However, shortly into his epilogue about the future of his country, our discussion turned to Kosovo. His opinions surprised me. "It will be very sad if Kosovo wins its independence but in this political atmosphere, I don't see any way that Kosovo can become part of Serbia," he told me. "Kosovo brings too many emotional problems to Serbia."

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The Current Discussion: With President Zardari forced to reverse his bans on political opponents, is Pakistan on the brink or is this a positive sign? What, if anything, can the West do to help maintain stability and democracy?

In less than one month, Pakistan's government has conceded not once, but three times, to challengers both political and militant in nature. Those concessions have raised concerns about Pakistan's vulnerability and its inability to suppress its growing militant problem or prevent violent disputes with the opposition.

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