"Why this expensive trip to Europe at this point in our rather turbulent history..."
"Who is going to Europe?"
"President Pervez Musharraf."
"To inform the Europeans that even though he is retired he is still committed to the war on terror..."
"I thought that was Bush's baby...don't look so confused, Bush is in the US not Europe."
"Oh I see...well, then I would argue that Musharraf is going to Europe to ease European concerns about the fairness of the forthcoming elections, maybe."
"Why can't he make some telephone calls and save the tax payers some money. After all it's not as if the coffers are full, the government has already resorted to heavy deficit financing which as we all know increases inflationary pressures..."
"And why couldn't Brown have come to Islamabad too - after all he came as far as Delhi and..."
"Ah different countries, different priorities, isn't that what Bush said?"
"Musharraf has had telephone conversations with Brown at least but they have done little good. Or so it would seem which is why UK is on the list of countries he will visit."
"Ah, so the old face to face meetings which will convince the European leaders that he is really the guy for democracy..."
"But the President must understand that talking to world leaders face to face now won't change anything. Their Press will continue to give the other side of the story and the leaders will be quite powerless to make statements of support if their constituents..."
"Ah yes, the way of the old and tried democracies...where constituents are listened to. There is quite a bit to be said about the new and improved version of democracy that is led by rural support..."
"Don't be facetious."