Too close for comfort

24 premiered last night, and although I may be a die-hard fan there seemed to be something peculiar about this incarnation. In times past, the conflict resonated between the United States and a threat that was veiled well enough by the producers to avoid any real-world allusions. This time, that veil was certainly lifted as the US enters into a peace agreement with the nuclear power hungry Islamic Republic of Kamistan. All the bells and whistles will definitely follow.

Is such a real-world allusion to both Pakistan and Iran a little too close for comfort, especially given the evolving intricacies of the political realm? As the series evolves, what anti-Mid East sentiment could it drum up? In a time where the division between reality and television is muddled, what risk does this near direct political reference create?