"So what did Bush say?"
"I don't understand why there is any confusion about what he said. It isn't as if Bush didn't make known to the Press directly and I mean directly in his own words precisely what he said to Musharraf on the telephone."
"But there is a difference in interpretation..."
"Read my lips: if Bush says in front of the media that he told Musharraf to announce the date of elections, retire according to age..."
"Don't be facetious."
"I am not being facetious."
"Retire according to age?"
"Well, he is well past retirement age and the army needs new blood and..."
"And you were being facetious."
"OK but the point is Bush asked for specifics and Musharraf has given him specifics for example that elections will be held by February 15 and..."
"But what about the coup against the judiciary, will that remain?"
"That the US never mentioned. So I guess the hope is that people would allow the judiciary to be trampled by the executive, it has been done in the past and let's be honest a compliant judiciary..."
"Is no longer acceptable to the people I imagine."
"Musharraf and the US maybe thinking that the people will forget his recent sacking of judges, those judges who had shown a penchant for being independent of the executive and that..."
"The lawyers and the civil society will have to continue their fight I would think."
"Bush doesn't really have his hand on the pulse of the Pakistani nation. For us an independent judiciary is worth fighting for."
"Bush only understands the US public opinion and how to manipulate it though that talent is also not in evidence. However what is disturbing is that Musharraf doesn't have his hand on the pulse of the nation."
"Ah yes all part of a new and improved democracy."