Sporadic fireworks have always been a regular part of the Pak-US relations. Successive governments have been managing the bilateral relationship, despite the gap between State policy and public opinion. Ironically, some facets of these relations, which our successive governments thought were mutually beneficial, at times, drew a sharp public reaction. The strategic divergence between Pakistan and America, which once again came to the fore with the Raymond Davis saga, continues to radiate powerful fissures; whereas the Abbottabad attack on May 2 made a serious and lasting dent in the relationship. Previously, Pakistans unilateral relaxing of visa policy for the Americans provided an opportunity to Blackwater to launch secret operations in Pakistan. On the domestic front, difference of opinion between the military and political leadership on issues, like the drone attacks, Kerry-Lugar Act and Abbottabad operation, is well known. For instance, the Abbottabad incident eroded the public image of the military leadership in terms of its ability to provide security. However, gradually, people came to understand that even under the highest degree of readiness such cowardly attacks stand a fair chance to succeed. The reaction of the political and military leadership on the May 2 attack failed to project a unified external faade. Moreover, former leaders of the ruling party have a track record of approaching the superpowers in a similar manner for the longevity of their tenure. These voids provided space for the memogate fiasco to take root. Now it is interesting to see who could emerge as losers and winners from the memogate scandal. Generally, three theories are being floated. Firstly, it is a sting operation by the army and ISI to discredit the political leadership and create a justification to topple the civilian leadership, with Ambassador Hussain Haqqanis head a collateral advantage. Secondly, it is a CIA sting operation to create cleavage between the political and military leadership, coupled with public reaction to reinforce the insecurity of Pakistans nuclear assets. And thirdly, that it happened under the authority of the highest political office in Islamabad. Lets take a look at the three prepositions. Many reasons and justifications are available to the army, if it desires to takeover; additional gimmicks of the sort are not required. Earlier, the military has been taking over on much smaller pretext than what the pre-memo environment offered. In the post-Abbottabad period, Pakistans political leadership was having high-level contacts with Iran, Afghanistan, Russia and other regional countries, obviously, not to the liking of the Americans. Thus, Washington might have felt it necessary to stop it through a scandalous event. Perhaps, this could accrue side benefits of creating a misunderstanding between the political and military components of national leadership, besides reinforcing the state of helplessness among the public. It could also provoke a military takeover; hence, provisions for the Kerry-Lugar Bill could be invoked that are to cut-off Pakistans economic aid. Anyway, the government, after sacking Ambassador Haqqani, has pushed the matter under the carpet. Moving of the matter to the apex court through political channel would completely politicise it; whereby, the real culprit may escape punishment. The courts verdict on the subject would take quite some time; and the governments track record in the context of implementing such decisions is not quite promising. Meanwhile, the CIA could have carried out a couple of new incidents to embarrass the military or political leadership of Pakistan. Such an eventuality would overshadow the memo issue and it will rest in peace, alongside other previous events of our national shame. At this point and time, the leakage of the memos contents only suited the American interests. It seems that they had had enough of Haqqani; so his casualty is of no consequence. Domestically, his views expressed in his book Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military do create a strong perception that he could easily fall prey to such ambitious temptations and take the initiative without prior clearance. Also, one doubts if the ex-diplomat would ever be interrogated thoroughly. His mercurial personality together, with a tendency of frequently busting this job specifications, had earned him the reputation of being an American Ambassador to Pakistan, based in Washington. Next is the mysterious conduct of Mansoor Ijaz; he needs a thorough grilling and, if possible, he should be tried in Pakistan. According to Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer, Ijaz has a long record of fabricating false information and self-promotion. In all probability, the memo was put together by Ijaz, however, it would be premature to rule out the fine-tuning of the text by Haqqani. Admiral Mullens dilly-dally conduct also fell short of his four-star stature. The Abbottabad attack was a moment of Pakistani leaderships humiliation; more so, of the military component. At that time, the political dispensation might have thought of clipping the wings of military leadership, including the ISI. It also suited the Americans, so they joyfully provided their shoulder. However, having failed in inflicting the intended damage, the Americans chose to use the double edged sword to their advantage. The plan was executed by the Americans with a systemic incorporation of their media as well. In his oped piece, A new Pakistan policy: Containment, published by International Herald Tribune, on October 17, Riedel opined: America needs a new policy for dealing with Pakistan. First, we must recognise that the two countries strategic interests are in conflict, not in harmony, and will remain that way as long as Pakistans army controls the strategic policies.......the generals, who run Pakistan, think time is on their side - that Nato is doomed to give up in Afghanistan.......We must contain the Pakistan Armys ambition until civilian rule returns and Pakistanis set a new direction for their foreign policy. Wayne Madsen reported: Pakistan is next on the target list of nations that will soon be feeling the military muscle of the United States.......unlike other Muslim nations that have been subjected to the US military intervention, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen and Libya, Pakistans ultimate prize for the West is its nuclear weapons arsenal.The plans have been coordinated between the CIA, Indias Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israels Mossad. Unfortunately, the memo saga reinforces the oft forgotten lesson that unless the politicians put their house in order, concomitantly strengthen all state institution alongside evolving a system of checks and balances, effective civilian control over the military may not graduate beyond a flight of fancy. And the voids would always be exploited by domestic, regional and extra-regional actors. It is unfortunate that select national media is joining hands with the foreign veritable media arms with multiple purposes to tarnish own institutions like the army and ISI. Interestingly, both are robust institutions ready to face the flake for everything and anything going wrong around the world; quickly shudder their shoulders, and continue their forward march The writer is a retired Air Commodore and former assistant chief of air staff of the Pakistan Air Force. At present, he is a member of the visiting faculty at the PAF Air War College, Naval War College and Quaid-i-Azam University. Email:khalid3408@gmail.com