Partly Facetious: taking the bull by the horns

"Despite repeated scorn being heaped upon them there has been no response from the powers that be."
"Well that's not true. President Musharraf has said that temporary upheavals in the country's security environment should not be a cause for concern for the public..."
"Well sir, I would take exception to that comment. It's the general public that is dying as a result of these upheavals need I add and if the terrorists continue to attack the citizenry..."
"The President said that it was the state policy to rein in anti-state elements that was causing upheavals."
"Did he admit that?"
"Yes."
"Does he realise what he has admitted?"
"Well I would assume so. I mean the upheavals are the result of the state policies and the state is after all going to preserve itself and..."
"Who is the state?"
"Don't go there. That way lies danger!"
"But who was his audience?"
"The Garrison at Lahore."
"Ah I see."
"But what are the issues in the upheavals he mentioned?"
"Internal security, provincial autonomy, construction of water reservoirs, NFC award and women's rights!"
"Internal security seems non-existent if we look at the deaths from these upheavals, provincial autonomy is a far cry from reality, just ask the Baloch, water reservoirs are causing more intra-provincial disharmony, the NFC award was not agreed if I remember correctly. The provincial lotas left it to the President and once these individuals are gone the NFC award will once again come to haunt us. And women's rights! The only rights he has restored to women are for the rape victims. Mind there are many such victims each day in Pakistan, in the land of the pure, but be that as it may the rest of the Hudood Ordinance remains."
"There is only so much he will do for Women's Rights."
"And he said nothing could shake his determination and his will to take the bull by the horns in the larger national interest."
"Ah that phrase again. The larger national interest which seems to mirror what Musharraf and Musharraf alone wants and does."
"Lucky for him isn't it."
"Don't be facetious."