The following was written by Scott Bates and was first published in The New London Day on January 4, 2008

The greatest national security threat to the American people in the world today can be found in Pakistan. It will be the job of the next president of the United States to take bold action to protect America from the threat that grows each day in that chaotic land.

But why should Americans care about the problems of far-away Pakistan?

First, the National Intelligence Estimate, a review prepared by 16 of the U.S. government's spy agencies, stated in a 2006 report that al-Qaida has regrouped and rebuilt its command and control structure inside of Pakistan. Al-Qaida receives sanctuary in Pakistan's "Northwest Frontier" and continues to gain a steady stream of recruits from local schools led by religious extremists.

Second, al-Qaida remains committed to striking at the United States. Osama Bin Ladin, who is likely inside Pakistan, has stated that it is a "religious duty" for al-Qaida to gain nuclear weapons. Bin Ladin has declared war on the United States and issued a "final warning" to the American people. He has received a religious ruling that says it is all right in the eyes of God to "burn with fire" up to 10 million American men, women and children.

Third, Pakistani nuclear scientists have sold nuclear weapons-making technology available to the highest bidder from North Korea to Libya. Pakistan's intelligence service, which guards its nuclear complex, provided weapons and money to the Taliban and has officers who are sympathetic to other Islamic extremists.

Fourth, the military rulers who control Pakistan are losing their grip and the lone hope for democracy in Pakistan was assassinated last week. The military government has jailed the lawyers, journalists and businessmen who provide the usual foundation for a democratic movement, while doing virtually nothing to push back a growing movement of al-Qaida sympathizers who now control large sections of the countryside.

There is a real and present danger that Pakistan and its nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of Islamist extremists. The consequences for America are too horrific to contemplate, and too serious to allow to happen.

The time has come for a new plan on how to deal with Pakistan, for the Bush administration's strategy is in ruins. The United States should focus on achieving three main goals regarding Pakistan: securing their nuclear weapons, fighting al-Qaida and preventing the rise of radical Islam.

Force may be necessary

We should share nuclear-warhead security technology with the Pakistani military to ensure that nuclear weapons and bomb-making material cannot be seized or stolen. The United States must be prepared to use force to disable Pakistan's nuclear weapons complex if it looks likely to fall into the hands of Islamic extremists. A standby team of Special Forces with air and sea support assets should be ready to disable Pakistan's nuclear weapons capability within hours of receiving that order.

We should condition military assistance to Pakistan on its commitment to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban. A quarter of Pakistan's combat troops should be dedicated to the fight against the extremists. We must also lift our self-imposed ban on using U.S. Special Forces to strike against al-Qaida sites inside Pakistan. The U.S. military should be free to strike against al-Qaida targets in Pakistan with a combination of Predator UAV's, hellfire missiles and helicopter gunships. American troops in Afghanistan should be free to pursue the Taliban enemy across the Pakistan border and destroy the bases from which they operate.

Building a democracy in Pakistan is likely beyond the competence of the United States government. America's approval rating in Pakistan is less than 15 percent and anti-Americanism is so great that any politician associated with us will likely be discredited.

Taking sides in internal Pakistani politics is not in America's short-term interest. However, we can take action to reduce the base of support for extremists. Currently only 2 percent of Pakistan's gross domestic product goes toward public education. The U.S. State Department should organize a coalition of the European Union, Japan and wealthy Gulf Arab states to double the funds spent on secular education in Pakistan, providing an alternative to the madrassas, which feed new recruits to al-Qaida.

There may not be much the United States can do to affect positive change in Pakistan. However there is much the next president of the United States can do to protect America, come what may, from one of the most chaotic places on earth.