-stans

[Charles Doyle]

Have y'all noticed that President Obama (often, at least) pronounces "Pakistan" [pakIstan] while "Afghanistan" is [AfgAn at stAn]?  I've heard him use those pronunciations in the same sentence (well, maybe adjacent sentences).

Is he being deferential to Pakistan, a precarious ally--whereas, since we own Afganistan (or hope to), the Americanized pronunciation is good enough?

--Charlie
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