"What is with Russia and its ageing submarines?"
"Yeah, I mean this is the second major event..."
"Except this time around they all survived."
"Well, that's good."
"But you know it seems very similar to our official raids on the terrorists and those spreading hate literature."
"I am actually worried. Rocca, a small fry in Washington I admit, but anyway maybe a small fry saying something that presages a change in US policy...anyway, she has said that Pakistan should move towards more democratic reform and..."
"So Musharraf is not a good guy any more?"
"Musharraf is a good guy but he must understand that the US foreign policy is changing on him. I mean I feel sorry for the guy, one day he is top honcho and big friend of the US and the next day all the deals go to India. One day our guided democracy is fine and the next day it isn't."
"Well, the US did say they are changing their policy: from a war on terror to a more ideological war so to speak."
"And the first casualty is Musharraf?"
"No, not the first casualty."
"Ah, I get it."
"About time. You have been watching the evolving US foreign policy since...Why, since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan."
"Yep, that was an invasion alright."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"The US went in as liberators you know."
"Something about liberators I tell you. It's quite a thankless job. Remember the Indians went in Bangladesh as liberators and now the Bengalis like the Indians even less than...than...why even less than they liked us during the 1971 debacle."
"Yep, as you said it doesn't pay to be a liberator."
"Same with Iraqis, are they grateful for being liberated by the Americans as they should?"
"Don't be facetious!"
"It's this hate literature - let's put all the Iraqis in jail."
"Yeah good idea."