ZAHIR KAZMI US intelligence agencies knew months before the November 05 Fort Hood shooting that suspect Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan tried to contact people with Al-Qaeda links, ABC News reported November 09, citing two US officials. However, it was unclear if the US Army had been informed. Having read the above news, I wonder if Seymour Hersh is thinking to use his acid soaked pen to write another article about the insecurity of American nukes since members of the American military of Muslim faith are allegedly in touch, or were trying to get in touch, with Al-Qaeda. Here's a unique glimpse of what he may write. As the Fort Hood story unravels, the gravity of the situation that America faces is coming to the fore. US intelligence agencies looked the other way once Major Hasan was trying to reach out to the people with Al-Qaeda connections. This oversight may have been a 'wait-see-sting operation' tactic. Whatever the case, it is alarming to conclude that there are Al-Qaeda sympathisers in the American military and strategic organisations who can steal some nukes for Al-Qaeda and other non-state actors. Though the American military claims that their nuclear weapons are under multi-layered controls, but the threat from within brings the effectiveness of the entire safety and security system into doubt which can unravel while America has its crosshairs locked on to counter such a threat from the Middle East or Asia. Hence, once it comes to the insecurity of nukes, Pakistan and America sail the same boat and their dilemmas are analogous. It will be a good idea to test my hypothesis of sending US troops to beef up security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Stretching it further, it will be ideal to explore the possibility to have a joint custodian programme for the nukes of both countries; with American and Pakistani troops managing each others strategic installations security. According to my inside sources, in both military forces, this item is already on Mullen and Kayani's agenda. The above Hersh's exclusive was made up to make a simple point: its good to stretch the imagination, but one must not let it run wild. Pakistan, or for that matter America's, nukes can possibly fall into wrong hands provided the entire state structure collapses and there's complete anarchy. And such articles are meant to build gloomy scenarios. It's an easy guess who draws pleasure from such insinuations since its not in the American administration's interest at least. Pakistan is passing through a difficult phase and a minority is challenging the writ of the state, but painting a picture of the state nearing failure is nonsensical. We must appreciate that a democratic government has just started taking root and has successfully led the military to claim victory in Swat operations. Did Sri Lanka become a state bordering failure in its ebbs and falls while combating Tamil Tigers for last three decades? Countering insurgency takes time, sacrifice and patience; especially on the part of allies. That's what the Obama Administration is doing in its support to the government and people of Pakistan. US media can follow their lead in the larger American interest. However, if that point is driven home and taken the media will loose its edge and so will some journalists. The writer is a freelance columnist. Email: zahirhkazmi@aol.com