Fallout From Mumbai

A police officer stands guard in Mumbai on Friday. (By Ritam Banerjee -- Getty Images)

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A quiet shift in U.S. policy simultaneously contributes to Pakistani desperation and boldness. The Bush administration lavished billions on Pakistan while it was ruled by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, whose continued survival became President Bush's top goal. Poorly advised by the State Department and the CIA, Bush let the clever generals of Pakistan swindle him.

Zardari, however, is clearly expendable to Washington. He can be allowed to fail. And because of his reputation, no government can afford the political costs of being taken to the cleaners by Mr. 10 Percent.

When Zardari asked several countries to make an emergency $100 million transfer directly into the Pakistani central bank this month, the answer was uniformly no, diplomatic sources say. He was told that he would have to go to the International Monetary Fund, which gave Pakistan a $7.6 billion loan last week subject to intrusive monitoring and other conditions.

The incoming administration of Barack Obama should follow this same path. Financial aid to Pakistan must now be channeled multilaterally, ideally through nongovernmental organizations that practice strict accountability.

And Obama should not repeat his vague campaign statements that indicated he might swap assistance to Pakistan on Kashmir in return for help in finding Osama bin Laden. That would resume the self-defeating bribery and bartering that failed under Bush, and it would pour oil on a burning fire.

jimhoagland@washpost.com