"That's what happens during a military government."
"Actually you are not right there! A military government has traditionally spent less on defence than a civilian government. The rationale is obvious: if you are from the military you have more flexibility shall we say than a civilian who is desperate that there be no coup..:"
"Ah yes. You are right, during the BB-Mian Sahib unabated fight, I mean it was like two kids fighting, anyway they both spent substantially more on defence than their military predecessors."
"Told you ...but the irony is that these figures are the latest."
"What figures?"
"That the defence share of total expenditure is 55% and development share is less than 37%."
"And then you say we don't have a new and improved democracy"
"Don't be facetious. This is serious."
"Shaukat Aziz has said the economy is doing well. How can he say that then with such expenditures?"
"Easy peasy. All Pakistani finance ministers have claimed that after they took over the reins of control of the economy it became better, thank you very much."
"But we as the common people know that is not true...I mean inflation is running sky high, true we have a lot of aid money these days but.."
"There is a way out though."
"To try to balance our budget, allocate more for development than defence, try to increase exports, try to increase education levels.."
"Good heavens no. We won't break with tradition."
"Oh, I get it. Try to attract foreign investment and..."
"Nope as I said before why break with tradition?"
"I give up. What is the way?"
"Catch Osama before the American re-election bid."
"Ah, I get it. Bush wants to give Osama to the American people before they vote?"
"Yep."
"But we are trying. I mean the WANA operation is all about that, isn't it?"
"The marriage of politics and terrorism."