For decades, Pakistan's generals only had to pick up a phone and order the removal of anyone in the civilian government who had crossed them. It's not so simple anymore, as the army is finding out in its latest battle with President Asif Ali Zardari.Despite the numerous crises hounding Zardari's government, the civilians for once hold the most cards in the non-stop bluffing game that defines Pakistani politics, giving it the confidence to stare down the powerful military, its political opponents and perhaps even the Supreme Court.

Two American Marines pictured in a video urinating on the corpses of militants in Afghanistan have been questioned and two other suspects will be grilled soon, a US military official said.