Flying Full Mast

[This picture has been posted as found. I do not know if it has been doctored. Or enhanced in any way.]
Is it a bird? Is it a Chinese plane? Is it Osama’s nose? Is it a long-range missile with a noxious, bio-hazardous payload pointed straight towards the enemy capital ? Is it the missing X-man Erecto, brother of Magneto?
No it’s just the General —-rising to the occasion, in a style that cries out, as the Salt N Pepa song goes, “Whatta man, whatta man, whatta mighty mighty man”.

Make no mistake–his enemies want the liquid center of his powers to be revealed.
Here is Benazir Bhutto expressing sentiments shared by a great number of his detractors.

It is very important for Musharraf to take off the uniform. His side has told the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that he doesn’t need our votes for President. He is going to fight on his own bat through the present assembly.

But needless to say, the President remains firmly in power—hard, rigid and unbending.
As always.
Not so the leader of the country he despises. A study in contrast to the President, he is gentle, yielding and sensitive; conditioned to get down on bended knee and clasp the hand of the Madam. Even when the person (the German chancellor) isn’t really the Madam but just a person who looks somewhat like her.
So there you have it folks. Two leaders with two contrasting styles.
And the two countries, both of whom turn 60, that lie in their hands.
As for us, we love them both.
Happy independence day.
Jhanda ooncha rahe humara.
[2nd picture courtesy Subhrajyoti Ghatak from here. The first picture was from a Bharatrakshak posting, the URL of which was sent to me by someone whose mail I have misplaced (I remembered to copy the picture though)...if the person reads the post, kindly let me know and I will put his name here in the acknowledgment section]