To understand Pakistan's present straits, some basic facts about the country must be borne in mind.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Pakistani nightmare

Nyad says she was 8 years old when she first dreamed about the possibility of swimming across the Straits of Florida.

CNN: August 20, 2012 -- Updated 1157 GMT (1957 HKT)

The tale about a child bride sold into a Straits-Chinese family who beats the odds to become its powerful matriarch, has been performed many times in the past 15 years.

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