It was once said that Pakistan was ruled by Allah, America and Abba, Nawaz Sharif's father. Nawaz Sharif was then the Prime Minister. Abba was replaced by the Army when General Parvez Musharraf took over. The alliteration of 'A' has not gone even after President Zardari has assumed power. His full name is Asif Ali Zardari. The ineluctable 'A' is still there.

Iran's presidential race just got more interesting, with former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Mousavi throwing his hat in the ring and former President Mohammad Khatami withdrawing his. This development poses the most significant challenge yet to current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - and a potential opportunity to alter the relationship between Iran and the West.