"So who do they think they are fooling?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The Sheikh Rashid news conference."
"Oh, about Musharraf being asked to stay on by the Chosen One and his Cabinet? And no one knowing what Musharraf's response will be?"
"We all know what Musharraf's response will be."
"Well, honestly they are not fooling anyone. We all know it's Musharraf calling the shots and not the Chosen One. I mean if the Chosen One was calling the shots he wouldn't have been chosen by Musharraf."
"That sounds contrary but I know what you mean. After all that's why he chose the Chosen One so to speak?"
"Of course. I mean we all know why Jamali was fired. He of the luxurious moustache had become restive so to speak very mildly, and was getting upset at Musharraf procrastinating and not being there to take decisions and make the deal with the Maulanas, remember when the uniform issue was agreed!
"Yes."
"It's just that Musharraf wants the Chosen One to sort out his (Musharraf's) concerns right away and the issue become dead once and for all."
"What issue?"
"That it's in the national interest he wear a uniform well past his 60 year retirement age and that he also remain President."
"That would reflect two things. First that the army has no one to replace him, which I don't think is true or its corollary that the army will abandon him if he doesn't wear the uniform which I think is not right either as the army is more loyal than that."
"It all boils down to the army?"
"Right. Can't be the politicians. They are all hand picked."
"Ah yes. Pity that, democracy new and improved and all that."