The Moment

9|20|08: Islamabad

It takes a big bomb to make a point in Pakistan these days. Suicide attacks have become so depressingly common that small incidents can be forgotten within hours. But when a bomber driving a truck packed with 1,300 lb. (600 kg) of high-grade explosives rammed the front gate of Islamabad's Marriott hotel on Sept. 20, the explosion destroyed the hotel, killed at least 60, injured hundreds and sent a powerful reminder to anyone who had not yet got the message: Pakistan is now the central front in the war between the U.S. and its allies and radical Islam.

The problem for...

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