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A good luncheon with people who had their hearts in the right place
Diplomatic sources in Washington described President Bush as Mr Musharraf’s “last holdout” in the US capital. Others in the Bush administration — including Vice-President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — had long given up on Mr Musharraf. But Mr Bush remained faithful to the person he considered a close ally and a personal friend.
The person who played a key role in persuading Mr Musharraf’s supporters in the Bush administration to stop backing the Pakistani leader is the US ambassador in Islamabad, Anne W. Patterson.
Ambassador Patterson argued that if Washington continued supporting Mr Musharraf it would end up stoking massive anti-American feelings in Pakistan.By the time Prime Minister Gilani met Mr Bush on July 28, Pakistani lobbyists were satisfied that they had neutralised the pro-Musharraf lobby in Washington.
“President Bush was the last holdout,” said the expert. “But after a good luncheon at the White House with people who had their hearts in the right place, Mr Bush also realised that he can no longer save Mr Musharraf”. [Link]
