We're not sure what to make of the news from Pakistan that a U.S. Embassy employee is being held in relation to the killing of two Pakistanis in Lahore. His story is that he was the victim of an attempted armed robbery, but Pakistani authorities are forging ahead with charges that it was "a coldblooded murder." The embassy and State Department are vigorously defending him on the basis of diplomatic immunity and self-defense.
The employee, Raymond A. Davis, is listed by the embassy as holding an "administrative and technical" position, and was carrying a 9mm Glock, a pocket telescope and GPS equipment. Hmmmmm. We're guessing that he hasn't been involved in distributing humanitarian aid.
It's clearly a significant bump in U.S. - Pakistani relations, which have been tense over increased drone strikes inside Pakistan. Also, Pakistan - Indian peace talks have also restarted after being suspended following the attacks in Mumbai a couple of years ago, and they can't afford to be derailed.
