A disconnect is becoming increasingly visible amongst the various American power holders in terms of the fight against terrorism. Secretary of State Clinton's latest remarks on what is feasible and what is counterproductive in this battle which goes far beyond the military is certainly a welcome change from the usual militaristic jingoism coming forth from the US Administration and Congress. Clinton has recognised the need for moving beyond dictation and towards development and mutual cooperation to succeed against terrorism. Unfortunately, there are other important players who are sending different signals so one is not sure where US policy is headed. Is Clinton's rationality mere rhetoric? What should one make of it given that at about the same time Republican Senator John McCain, visiting Kabul, praised the efficacy of drone strikes on Pakistani soil as being an "effective" element of US strategy. Obviously someone has not informed Senator McCain of the damaging reaction to these drone attacks which have primarily killed hundreds of innocent Pakistani civilians in 2008 alone and barely more than five terrorist targets. So, either it is a deliberate US policy to speak with "forked tongue" or there really is a sense of confusion within the Obama and Congressional set ups. But the Pakistani position is becoming more clear at the official level - finally - on the drones at least. The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs has once again reiterated the Parliamentary consensus against drone attacks by the US and demanded that the government hold "candid" talks with the US. But the problem is that the US still insists that these drone attacks are with the consensus of the Pakistan government. So it is time for the Pakistani leadership to come clean on its drones' policy, especially with President Zardari informing a US Congressional delegation, in no uncertain terms, that drone attacks were undermining the national consensus on the terror war. In fact, they are also directly adding to the militancy and terrorism within Pakistan. While the Clinton remarks should be welcomed, overall the US continues to adopt an arrogant and irrational approach towards Pakistan. For instance, they want to get the privileges of an Occupying power, which they are clearly not in Pakistan, and therefore get miffed if we enforce our security stringently. Given how Pakistani officialdom is strip searched sometimes by US authorities at US airports, and the problems Pakistanis are having getting US visas, it hardly becomes the US to complain if their 'diplomats' are subjected to minimal security searches or that US citizens are having to undergo normal reciprocal visa procedures. It is time Pakistani evolved greater clarity on its cooperation with the US, including on the issue of drones. Economic assistance cannot come at a political and strategic price that jeopardises the country's security.