Realpolitik

Term used to patronise those outsiders who fail to "understand" the "complex reasons" for a decision that leaves the rest of the world gasping in outraged disbelief. Pakistani intelligence sources quoted on the BBC News website claim a US drone fired a missile at a village in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, province killing between 9 and 20 people. Coincidentally, also in the news yesterday, it was announced that the US and India had finally reached agreement on the long debated and much criticised nuclear cooperation deal. Much criticised since it is feared it will upset the delicate balance of power in a region where the words nuclear and proliferation send end-timers into paroxisms of delight. So, you send unmanned drones into Pakistan to attack villages whilst on the same day announcing you're going help their buddies just across the border by giving them a leg up in the nuclear race. Realpolitik, my son.