申論題

Perhaps that is why Pakistan's government is fumbling to respond. Ordinarily loquacious spokesmen have gone mute. The usual promotion of elaborate conspiracy theories will no doubt resume soon, but the best that Asif Zardari, the president, could manage was a bluff and unconvincing denial that Pakistan is home to fanatics and terrorists in an op-ed for the Washington Post. 

What happens next? In 2001 America invaded Afghanistan, kicking off its ten-year misadventure in that country, because the Taliban harboured Mr. bin Laden at the time. It looks to some, now, as if Pakistan was next in line to play host to al-Qaeda’s leader. Colder relations with the Americans must surely be expected, while Pakistan fumbles for some sort of explanation. 

Small bits of black metal wreckage strew a wheat field beside number 25, evidence of the American helicopter that crashed during the raid in which Mr. bin Laden was killed. These are being hastily gathered by schoolboys and equally excited foreign correspondents.