It was a good Republic Day this year. The parade went off smoothly—in fact, there was a sense of gravitas and pride to the proceedings that have been missing for some time now. Perhaps the signs of a country banding together in a show of solidarity. Further, on the heels of 26/11, the Centre is expected to give the go ahead for the establishment of a Special Forces Command on the lines of crack anti-terrorist teams seen in countries like the US and Israel. We hope this is implemented, and soon. Finally, the icing on the cake (if the screaming headlines are anything to go by): US President Barack Obama’s assertion that India has no better friend than the US. But before we get all euphoric let’s just remember that he may say the same thing to Pakistan tomorrow.