Maleeha Lodhi on PML(Z), Is India really a big nation, which behaves small? By Jawed Naqvi ,

A different set of reasons may lie behind the PML-N's less than robust political role. One, its leadership's deep suspicion of the establishment and two, an acknowledgement of its political limitations. The first is self-evident, and is reflected in frequent allusions by its leaders to unspecified conspiracies which they vow never to succumb to. The perception of the establishment as a greater political threat to the PML-N than the PPP seems to have translated into an ultra-cautious, almost passive political approach which has unintendedly undercut its effectiveness. This also explains why the party does not feel bound to engage the government in any rigorous policy debate. Despite having a more media-savvy team, the PML-N has often been driven by TV anchors into taking positions on issues ranging from rental power projects to the US drone attacks. Maleeha Lodhi on PML(Z)

I have yet to come across a serious, objective discussion in any of the newspapers why India’s neighbours are allergic to it. Instead of blaming Pakistan’s ISI sleuths who probably play a hand whenever they find an opening in determining or undermining India’s ties with its neighbours, would it not be useful for Indian intellectuals and analysts to have a meaningful discussion as to why India’s RAW or IB are unable to neutralise the damage? India helped create Bangladesh out of Pakistan, but Dhaka today has better ties with Islamabad than with New Delhi. Is it because of ISI alone? Buddhist Sri Lanka, Hindu Nepal, they all seem to have better ties with Pakistan than with India. Shouldn’t there be a commission of inquiry set up by India to investigate the lapses by its ministers, officials and sleuths that have brought the country to a pass that bewildered Moynihan? Is India really a big nation, which behaves small? By Jawed Naqvi

NYT Reports on Justice Dept. Charge That Blackwater Saw Killing Iraqis as "Payback for 9/11"
By Array - When will a major paper report on the allegation that Erik Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe"?


Priceless: How the Federal Reserve Bought the Economics Profession By Ryan Grim -The Federal Reserve so thoroughly dominates the field of economics that real criticism of the central bank has become a career liability for economists.

Patrick Swayze: A Life In Pictures (SLIDESHOW) By The Huffington Post News Editors
Patrick Swayze died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. He had a career that spanned decades and genres and private life that sometimes leaked onto the pages of popular tabloids. In the following slideshow we look back at the headlines he made on and off the screen.

Whitney Houston Explains Her "Heavy" Drug Habit, Says Bobby Brown Spit On Her By The Huffington Post News Editors - CHICAGO — Whitney Houston took drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, with ex-husband Bobby Brown, who was emotionally abusive during their marriage and at one point spit on her, the singer said during an interview that aired Monday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." "I had so much money and so much access to what I wanted," Houston told Winfrey. "I didn't think about the singing part anymore. I was looking for my young womanhood." After a long absence from music, Houston is staging a career comeback with a new album "I Look to You" released last month and a two-part appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Houston is one of the best-selling artists of all time, but her career stalled as she grappled with drug problems and a troubled marriage to Brown.