Cheney understands that messing with Pakistan would cause them more problems than they ever imagine or have thus far in other places.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\08\02\story_2-8-2007_pg1_1
US won’t go into Pakistan after Al Qaeda: Cheney
US Vice President Dick Cheney has discounted the possibility of American forces going into Pakistan to hunt Al Qaeda even as they work closely with Islamabad. “Well, we work closely with President Pervez Musharraf and his government in Pakistan. We’ve captured and killed a lot of Al Qaeda in Pakistan. But it’s obviously a sovereign state. They’ve got reason to go after Al Qaeda,” he said in an interview on Tuesday with CNN’s Larry King. In response to a question if Pakistan had asked the US to come in, Cheney said, “Well, I don’t expect that to happen. I think the relationship we have at present is a good one. We have been able to collaborate closely together on a wide range of operations. And I think we’ll be able to continue doing that.” In recent testimony before the US Congress, defence and intelligence officials have conceded that tribal areas in the North Waziristan area of Pakistan had become a “safe haven” for the terrorist organisation with a peace deal signed by Musharraf with tribesmen last year not working. Meanwhile, at his regular media briefing White House spokesman Tony Snow reiterated Washington’s support to the government of Pakistan. “What we have seen is that there has been a real commitment, especially going into the tribal areas and trying to take care of the trouble spots – Al Qaeda and Taliban – and to go after them. “And that is something that is absolutely critical and we’ll continue to support them in doing it,” he said. Asked about the US still getting no access to Dr AQ Khan, Snow said he could not say what’s going on with the AQ Khan network, but “it is important that he has been apprehended”. online
