Don't look now but Pakistan is apparently about to be in for a very rude awakening.

After years of frustration in dealing with the Paksistani's reluctance to go after the Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries along the border with Afghanistan, the US may finally be ready to violate the territorial integrity of their extremely difficult ally and go in themselves to destroy those bases.

The TimesOnline is reporting that US and NATO troops are massing on the plains just east of the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan with artillery and armour in preparation for an attack on the Taliban.

You may recall that the two Waziristans were part of separate agreements signed with the governmetn of President Pervez Musharraf where the tribes pledged to keep foreign fighters like al-Qaeda out of their regions while promising not to cross the border into Afghanistan.

I don't know what was dumber; Musharraf trying to make us believe that nonsense or the US State Department praising the agreements. At any rate, the agreements were honored in the breach, of course, and Taliban have been pouring across the border.

Since the new government came to power - a government even less concerned about Afghanistan security - those cross border raids have increased in numbers and intensity. Just the other day, the Taliban boldly attacked a remote NATO base killing 9 Americans.

That was evidently the last straw and it appears - let's hope - that we are going in to Pakistan and take out some of those bases while disrupting the Taliban's plans.

The street demonstrations following such a move on our part will be incredible. There will be calls for war by many - especially the extremists. The Pakistani government will protest vociferously. There may even be consequences as far as their cooperation in the War on Terror and nuclear non proliferation.

But folks, Pakistan has had this coming to them for a long time. We have showed an infinite amount of patience over the last 4 or 5 years as the Pakis have allowed the Taliban to reform and regroup on their territory. We have respected their sovereignty at the expense of American lives. Surely we have done as much as we could possibly do, gone as far as we could have gone - farther in my opinion - in being aware of the Pakistani people's sensibilities about the sovereignty of their territory.

But now it's either Pakistan's sovereignty or the safety of NATO troops in Afghanistan. And for that, there is no choice but to go in and let the chips fall where they may.