"I just heard General Kalashnikov." "Don't be facetious, next you will be referring to al Qaeda recruitment centre against George Bush or pro-Waziristan recruitment centre against Musharraf."
"And need I add these two recruitment centres are very much in existence and doing a thriving business amongst the growing numbers of discontented."
"Whatever you may say about the policies of Bush and by extension Musharraf's policies the fact remains that I cannot support these guys who are blowing up innocent people like you and me."
"Yeah, I guess you are right. But talking of General Kalashnikov I just wanted to let you know that there is such a guy. He made the AK-47, much in use by people from our part of the world."
"First introduced into the region by the Soviets during their occupation of Afghanistan."
"Right and then once copies were made the region had its own supply, steady but sure."
"Precisely. But anyway that's not what I was going to talk about either. General Kalashnikov has given his name to a new vodka."
"Man, that is against the spirit of Islam."
"Well yes, it is a spirit but in any case the vodka does less damage to humans than the gun."
"Indeed. But one is considered evil and the other not I think."
"If the spirit is evil then surely the gun is more evil as it has killed innocent people and..."
"Hey, forget this debate. I don't know where it is going."
"Well, if we can get these people to replace the guns with the spirit."
"That is against the spirit of Islam."
"And killing isn't?"
"I see what you mean but am totally confused, my friend. I just don't know where I stand."
"Talking of confusion, Musharraf says he is confused about giving up his army post, you know, his real power base."
"Hey, if he is confused all he needs to do is tell the Lotas to back off and there wouldn't be another peep out of the Lotas."
"Ah yes, but confusion is nice."
"Indeed - keeps the Lotas on their toes."
"Not in this instance - they know he wants to keep the two hats."