This brief item in NBC News’ “First Read” update brought a grim smile to my face:

*** Pakistan returns: The upheaval in Pakistan is a good reminder that we shouldn’t predict how foreign policy will impact the 2008 election. Three months ago, many were convinced Iraq would be the top foreign policy issue. Three weeks ago, those same folks were pondering the power of Iran. Now it’s Pakistan.

Some of us look at those list of countries and detect a particular theme there; that’s not exactly a random selection of countries and corners of the world. The common thread is the threat of Islamist radicalism, those who see war against the west, using any methods at hand, a religious duty commanded by their God.

Somebody wrote a book a while ago saying that the war on terror and Islamic radicalism were here to stay as preeminent issues, fresh in voters’ minds on Election Day – even if it dips in opinion polls from time to time. (That fine tome is now available at fine remainder bins everywhere.)

Considering all the potential hot spots in the war on terror – Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, the Israeli-Lebanese border, Somalia, the site in Syria that got bombed a little while back, potential terrorism targets in European cities, the U.S. homeland – would any candidate bet that the country won’t be facing a potential crisis as Americans go to the polls in November 2008?