Re: The endgame: who wins, who loses?
Honestly, I think that wadi is no longer really a matter and removing it won’t really affect his authority, especially if in his opinion he gets a ‘favourable’ verdict from the Supreme Court. I believe if the judges say that he can seek re-election from the present assemblies, but only if he takes off his wardi before doing so (i.e. in next few weeks), then that would be seen as quite a political victory for him. It would entirely negate the need for a deal with the PPP or any opposition party, and all the massive Presidential powers bestowed under the 17th Amendment would remain intact. He would not need to lift the 3rd time bar for Prime Minister, which would leave BB out in the cold :). The elections in Jan 2008 would be a free for all, and no party is likely to even come close to a majority to govern, which would necessetate the need for large and unwieldy coalitions at the centre and the provinces. Such political dispensations will also make the role of President & Commander-in-Chief Pervez Musharraf absolutely crucial, and all will knock on his door for chance to sit on the kursi.