No offense meant, but I think IF failed when the moment of truth came. He failed the ultimate test of his knowledge on international affairs, in my humble opinion. Nepe, I take my earlier comment back and will discuss with you on this because you need a lesson or two on international affairs: Yes, I stand by my BELIEF that without a go ahead signal by India and the US, the King wouldn't have possibly made the Feb 1 move. International politics which I study is looking beyond the offical rhetorics. There are many instances where the US has covertly supported "authritarian regimes". And Nepal is no different. The arms embargo and this and that, is not that important. The US can channel the fund/military aid through a third country (possibely European or Egypt, or even India). Recently the Egyptian asistant minister for Foreign Afairs was in Nepal!! See, you have to look at various factors, not just the official rhetorics and base you arguments on those. THIS IS THE FIRST LESSON OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS- RHETORICS AND ACTIONS DO NOT ALWAYS MATCH. If you read that editorial of April 15 (or was it 16th) on NYT, it starts with, the US does not want a failed state in South Asia. Bingo! That's the point. If you read beyond the liberal-radical (Edward Said came up with this concept- Orientalism) stuff in that editorial, it says, one thing: Don't let Nepal become a failed state. And the US ambassador has toned down his rhetoric, as evident by his interviews. It will be outright silly to expect the US supporting the King officially in this context, but the US position WILL change over time. The Clinton administration didn't support Musharraf either in 1999 and decided not to sell the F16s that pakistan had already paid for!!! What happened: In less than 2 years, he became America's trusted ally. Indians don't want an unstable Nepal either. There only fear at this point is what happens if the modern arms and ammunition of the RNA goes to the Maoist. That's why they placed an arms embargo. If the Indian govt. is persuaded that the RNS is capable of not letting the Maoists have the M16s or the Indian made SLRs, they will resume the militray supplies.