Combating terrorists in Pakistan's borderlands was hard enough, but now the Obama administration must take actions to prevent Pakistan from evading U.S. and international pressure to attack the terrorist cancer eating away at Punjab, the nation's must populated province.

Against this backdrop--Pakistan careening from one crisis to the next and the U.S.-Pakistan relationship at its lowest point in years--come two contrasting books from experts on the country.

The Iranian mullahs are active supporters of terrorism all over the world, and we cannot expect to win the global war on terror so long as they remain in power.

It is for the Iranians to liberate their country. If they are willing to fight for freedom, we should stand with them.

What we need in Iraq is not a new diplomatic offensive so much as energy and competence in fighting the fight.

We need to be patient and maintain the security progress in Iraq that clears the way for political progress.

Great commanders usually come in pairs; in the case of Iraq, Generals David Petraeus and Raymond Odierno can now be added to the list.

Defense SecretaryRobert Gates is making needed changes at the Pentagon.