A troubled ally, a cross-border war

Taliban fighters are waging the Afghan war from bases within Pakistan, where al-Qaeda also has sanctuary. The CIA has sharply increased drone attacks in tribal Pakistan, in lieu of sending U.S. troops into a nation recognized as an American ally. CIA Director Leon Panetta has said there need to be "some boots on the ground," and a 3,000-strong Afghan paramilitary force, controlled by the CIA, has been staging covert cross-border raids.