READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THE PAKISTAN POLL

As the War on Terror rages on, the United States attention has turned towards Pakistan. The mountainous northwestern fringes along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan are known havens for terrorist groups and activities and considered a likely hiding place for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri. Al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban have used it as a staging area for attacks into Afghanistan and the U.S. has previously fired upon militants as they attempted to flee into the mountainous and protective refuge of Pakistan. The situation has changed though; on September 3^rd the U.S. headed an air assault raid consisting of helicopter and ground troops that resulted in 17 Pakistani casualties. The past clashes with suspected al-Qaeda targets hiding within the borders have been through indirect fire or Hellfire strikes via Predator drones, but this was the first time the U.S. has reported a ground operation into Pakistan. The result has been an up roar from the Pakistani government and military. Senior military personal of the Pakistani Army have stated that Pakistan would not allow foreign troops onto its soil and that Pakistan would be defended at all cost. Pakistan has had trouble controlling the growing terrorist training camps and havens in the past. Pakistan’s FATA or Federally Administered Tribal Areas are ungoverned regions along the border that are perfect for the likes of al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. These areas are a major concern for the surrounding countries, and Pakistan has had a history of playing on both sides when addressing the issue. That, along with the recent election of President Asif Ali Zardari, who has spent more time in prison then in the government and got out of a corruption trial in 2006 by pleading mental instability, leaves the U.S. skeptical on depending on Pakistan to deal with the untamed FATA. With tensions rising, the path forward remains unclear.