And why I don't cover politics anymore, because this was telegraphed six months ago:
"Ruling narrows Musharraf's options; Court allowing archrival to return" by Stephen Graham/Associated Press August 27, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Aides to Musharraf are in London to hold talks with Sharif and another opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto, on a possible agreement to keep the president in office, but negotiations so far have produced little progress. And US impatience with Musharraf's failure to eliminate Taliban and Al Qaeda strongholds near the Afghan border is growing.
The United States, Musharraf's key international backer, appears to be prodding him toward an accommodation with Bhutto. President Bush has made clear that Pakistan's effectiveness as an ally against terrorism takes priority over the speed of democratic reform."
"Close Aides to Musharraf Meet With His Opposition" by Salman Masood/New York Times August 27, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 26 —The News, one of the most widely read newspapers in the country, reported that the chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, and the chief of staff to General Musharraf, Lt. Gen. Hamid Javaid, had arrived in London.
"Cabinet Minister in Pakistan Resigns in Protest of Musharraf’s Re-election Efforts" by Carlotta Gall and Salman Masood/New York Times August 28, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 27 — The News, a leading daily newspaper, reported Sunday that the chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, and General Musharraf’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Hamid Javaid, had arrived in London to hold talks with Mr. Sharif. Mr. Sharif has emerged as a major challenger to General Musharraf after the Supreme Court ruled last week that the former prime minister had the right to return from exile.
Tariq Azim Khan, the state minister for information: "These reports are mere speculation and political kite-flying.”
Sheik Rashid Ahmed, the minister for railways, also denied that aides to General Musharraf had met with Mr. Sharif in London.
On Monday, Dawn, one of the country’s most authoritative daily newspapers, reported that top aides to President Musharraf were in London to salvage a “deal” with Ms. Bhutto.
Ms. Bhutto has been in negotiations with General Musharraf and his aides for months over a power-sharing deal that would allow him to continue for another term as a civilian president and allow her to return to take part in elections, perhaps as a candidate for prime minister, freed of legal impediments stemming from corruption charges and limits on her running for prime minister for a third time.
Ms. Bhutto has been demanding concrete concessions, including a pledge that General Musharraf stop wearing his uniform."
[How 'bout those LYING GOVERNMENTS, huh?]
Hey, War Dailies, isn't there a war going on up in the Frontier Provinces?
"Pakistan: Militants Launch Fresh Attacks" by Bashirullah Khan/Associated Press August 27, 2007
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan -- Militants and soldiers exchanged fire in northwest Pakistan Monday, an official said, killing one militant and injuring three civilians and a soldier in a lawless region.... The clash in North Waziristan came a day after four militants and a soldier died in fighting there and a suicide attack killed four policemen in neighboring North West Frontier Province.
The militants fired rockets at a security post on the outskirts of North Waziristan's main town of Miran Shah before dawn Monday, sparking a gunbattle with troops.... A mortar shell apparently fired by security forces hit a civilian home, wounding two women and a child.... One militant was killed and one soldier wounded in the firing.
Militants rocketed military posts and bases in Miran Shah and in Mir Ali, another North Waziristan town, but no one was hurt.
Violence blamed on Islamic militants has spiked in recent weeks in northwestern Pakistan, including in the North and South Waziristan tribal areas that border Afghanistan.
The uptick in violence comes amid increased U.S. pressure on Pakistan.... Militants have staged almost daily attacks on security forces in North Waziristan. The army's top spokesman, Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad, said Friday that some 250 militants and 60 troops have died in a month of violence."
[Nothing like hiding wars, huh, reader?
Much more important stories out there, anyway, like Lindsey, Brittany, Ms. South Carolina, Mike Vick and Larry! ]
