Then what are they for? CIA is having problems establishing border posts along the ungoverned Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Panetta pressed on missing posts along Pakistan-Afghan border

Senate testimony last week during the nomination of Leon Panetta to be CIA director revealed that the CIA is having problems establishing border posts along the ungoverned Pakistan-Afghanistan bordAher.

Leon Panetta testifies in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, on Feb. 6. Reuters/Molly Riley

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said during a Feb. 6 hearing that Al Qaida has "reestablished a safe haven" between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"We have there a border coordination center that has been set up -- just one," Whitehouse said. "There's supposed to be six. My sense is that it's going very slowly. Only the one is operational and I think these border coordination centers, if they can develop into trilateral targeting and tactical direction centers for that area, could provide enormous advantage in the battle with Al Qaida and the Taliban syndicates."

Whitehouse urged Panetta to move quickly to set up the remaining five border posts because similar posts were "extremely, extremely effective" when used in other areas.

"I believe that we need to set up those kinds of border stations in order to improve our relationship, in order to improve our security, particularly in Afghanistan," Panetta said.

Gaining control in the border regions, where Al Qaida and Taliban forces are operating, is considered one of the United States highest military objectives in the war on terror.