MORE ON PAKISTANI NUKES - AT 4:31 P.M. ET:  We noted earlier today a New York Times report on apprehension in Washington over the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.  Now, possibly as a response to that
Times piece, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is out with one of those "on the one hand, on the other hand" statements on the subject:

WASHINGTON — Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday that he was comfortable that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were secure, but that he was “gravely concerned” about the progress the Taliban had made inside both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In a news briefing at the Pentagon, Admiral Mullen offered a mixed assessment about security in the region in advance of three-way meetings this week between President Obama and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.

Admiral Mullen, who was in the region last week, said that he did not think for now that the United States had to worry that militants would get hold of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. “We all recognize, obviously, the worst downside with respect to Pakistan is that those nuclear weapons come under the control of terrorists,” Admiral Mullen said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t see that in any way imminent whatsoever at this particular point in time.”

COMMENT:  No problem now. No crisis imminent.  No issue at this particular point in time.

Feel reassured?  Stock that shelter.

May 4, 2009