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The Bush administration is still backing Musharraf, even as officials speak more frequently of working with "the Pakistani people," instead of "the Pakistani leader." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday met Musharraf on the outskirts of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in the highest-level contact since he declared emergency rule in November.

Rice pressed him to ensure that the vote is free and fair and that the Pakistani people have confidence in the results, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Such remarks suggest that the administration is discounting the new assessments on Musharraf from intelligence and congressional officials.

"You're going to get all kinds of people saying he's done for," said a senior administration official. "No one can make that prediction at this point. . . . He's moved into a new job. He will have to work with a new prime minister and they'll have to work out the responsibilities. And they will have to lead in a country without many leaders."


Man, we can't get a new president soon enough. It will be a great day in America and the world... when John McCain is elected