"Gonzales is gone."
"After doing much damage to Bush..."
"Well, that's nothing new. Didn't Rumsfeld go the same way?"
"Indeed he did, as did Wolfowitz."
"What about John Bolton?"
"Same and don't forget Karl Rove though he went the Poodle way."
"What is the Poodle way?"
"You get out before you are thrown out."
"But you know as regards doing damage to Bush I think you are overstating the importance of these guys. Each and every one of the neo-conservatives did considerable damage to Bush - but let's call a spade a spade: Bush did the most damage to Bush."
"That, in time, becomes true of most strongmen if you understand my meaning."
"Yes, I do understand your meaning. You are making some oblique reference to Musharraf here?"
"Precisely, men who have wielded absolute power can't accept or understand when power begins to slip."
"Right, but different times require different tactics. What worked when they had absolute power won't work when power is slipping away!"
"But if you don't see the power slipping..."
"True that could be a problem but anyway the Bush principle applies here as well."
"What Bush principle?"
"That Bush did the most damage to Bush."
"Ah, I see. But to be fair to Musharraf he seems to be changing tactics."
"That's true but not quick enough and let's be honest with no real will."
"I guess, otherwise the deal with BB would have been struck."
"But BB may have been unable to bring the Jiyalas with her, and then there is the question of how long she may support him without his uniform."
"For five years and..."
"You have heard of impeachment?"
"I am sure he is aware of the pitfalls."