Adil Najam
Even though much of the U.S. and world media seems to have already decided who will win the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, the fact remains that the elections are determined by votes, not by polls.
Much can happen between now and Tuesday. Including the (re-)discovery that the opinion polling is not an exact science. I doubt if that will be the case, but part of me is now fed-up with the over-polling in this election.
That means that maybe we should do an ATP poll of our own :-)
As has been evidenced in other posts of this blog there are Pakistanis who strongly feel that a President Barack Obama will be be more dangerous for Pakistan than a President John McCain. 
There are also many who think the exact opposite. And as the question in the poll suggest there may also be those who feel that no matter who wins things will get worse or, maybe, will become better for Pakistan.
Without losing sight of the fact that Americans will, and should, elect the President they think is best for America, not for Pakistan – and not withstanding my own expressed view that Pakistani-Americans will also be voting this time on their own domestic policy concerns and not on Pakistan’s foreign policy preferences – one does wonder how a new administrtaion in Washington (now that there is already a new administration in Islamabad) might impact Pakistan.
So, please do tell us what you think. And why.
Shayan R
I have to disagree with you as far as Pak military is concerned with regards to fighting militants. Perhaps early on the military may have thought of “good and bad” militants, but after the events of last 2 years, and over 1,300 soldiers including generals lost, we see the military fighting militants very hard now. Its another matter that the Pak military’s counter-insurgency abilities, and few assets like Cobra helicopters means that only one proper operation can be conducted at a time.
On the other hand Pakistani politicians, media, and “awam” are the ones who need to be constantly pressured into fighting this war. That is where I think the US role is useful.
@YLH:
Right again. Thank you for a great post!
@Shayan,
Bold words. Whether one agrees with you or not–you are going against the grain of ‘national honor’–yet your words help establish the other end of the spectrum of argument. ‘Truth’ always lies somewhere in between.
So thank you!
Meengla
I think a shift of focus from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan under an Obama presidency will probably be for the best. Our government and military clearly cannot be trusted to deal with the militants without a lot of international pressure and assistance. So be it. We need to regain control over FATA and Swat and crush the TTP as soon as is humanly possible. Many of us think that American interference is counterproductive but without its pressure our military would never have fought the militants as earnestly as it is fighting them today. And while the drone attacks are very much counterproductive, America can help us a lot by stabilizing the Afghan provinces on our border, stopping infiltration into Bajaur and other areas where the army is trying to rout the Taiban and keeping our government from getting distracted.
http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/obama- presidency-is-better-for-pakistan/
Obama is better for Jinnah