Pakistan

I know a girl from Pakistan who hails from a fairly prominent family. I don't know exactly what her father does or what his position is, and I haven't asked, but I know that the country's leader, Pervez Musharraf (or "Mushy" as she refers to him) came over to her family's house last summer for dinner. Well, here's an excerpt from a recent conversation over instant messenger:

Her: ok so mushy told a hilarious story of bush and his dog
it was a really small dinner
with like 7 ppl
and i got to talk to him
and he asked my opinion on kashmir and stuff
it was really cool
and he had us all cracking up about his bush and blair stories
Me: so what did he say about bush and the dog?
Her: just how much bush loves that dog
me: barney?
Her: but how barney must be the stupidest dog on earth
yeah
lol
ill tell u in person another time

OK so it wasn't the most serious conversation in the world, but it did a somewhat more profound turn. She went to discuss life in Pakistan, stating that the country depresses her more each time she visits. The country is rife with religious fundamentalism (not really news) that even extends inside her own upper-crust family with her uncle telling her father last year that he is literally "going to hell" for what I gather to be his secular lifestyle.

And while the country seethes with discontent the rich busy themselves by attending balls, purchasing more jewelry and comparing notes about their latest extravagant purchase. And where is it all going? I commented that Pakistan sounded like a country on the cusp of revolution. Her response:

actually
i wouldnt be surprised
if therewas a revolution
but an islamic one
maybe not like iran
but its already happening

Indeed, her family just purchased a place here in Washington and her mother is moving here this summer. Her father, she said, intends to remain in the country to see what he can do to promote positive change. But one has to conclude the overall situation is not good.