Ultimately which ever you feel most comfortable with.
Typically I'd suggest C++ for it's simply raw power. However C++ programmers are a dying breed, the world's gone OO mad and since like yourself a lot of n00bs are picking easier to learn high level languages it's also starting to dominate the market. I'd personally stay away from java though, nicely enough it's platform independant, but it's the most slow arse piece of shit to grace this planet.
Also, PA's gone to perl? yuck, if I ever considered returning to the game that's turned me away for good. Oh for the days it was coded in highly efficient C++ running as fast-CGI
