CAMP DAVID, June 25: For President Pervez Musharraf, it was a brief, 30-minute flight from Washington to the presidential resort of Camp David. But for the media team, it was a long journey that began at 5.30 in the morning when they were asked to gather at a Washington hotel.
It was a steep drive, the road winding up through a hilly area, shadowed by tall pines and interspersed with streams running down the rocks.
Once inside the camp, the journalists were herded into a compound called Round Meadow where they had to wait for two hours for the briefing.
The entire area was guarded by US Marines, armed with automatic weapons. Nice and polite but strict, the Marines checked every time a journalist stepped out of the area reserved for them. Those who had hoped to file a quick, arrival story were disappointed as their cell phones were not working.
About half an hour before the briefing, they were taken to a cabin where they were frisked by the Marines while a dog sniffed through their cameras and laptops.
Before boarding the bus for the briefing area, the journalists were informed that the entire Camp David was a smoke-free zone. They were also asked not to use their cell phones, even if they worked, not to point their cameras at Marines, not to take pictures.
Those with video cameras were told that they should focus their cameras at the two presidents alone. “No panning, no wide-angle shots. Anybody found violating any of the above instructions will be physically removed from the camp,” said a young captain commanding the troops.
Once the PTV cameraman tilted his camera towards the green area where the two presidents were supposed to come from and a Marine immediately pounced on him. “One more mistake and we will take your camera away,” he warned.
Finally, their long-wait came to an end when the two presidents arrived on a golf cart at the Camp David landing zone for the briefing.
President Musharraf and his entourage left Washington for Camp David at 9.30 in the morning, arriving there at 11. President Bush had given his special, white-top helicopter for President Musharraf and the first lady, Mrs Sehba Musharraf. The rest of the team came on a second helicopter while the security team accompanied them on the third.
The president and his team were advised to dress informally. So President Musharraf was not wearing a jacket when he arrived.
President Bush, who received him along with First Lady Laura Bush and other senior members of his cabinet, took off his jacket as well when he saw his guest. Secretary of State Colin Powell was seen hurriedly taking off his tie and jacket.
The two first ladies were wearing light-green dresses, Mrs Sehba Musharraf in shalwar-qameez and Mrs Laura Bush in a suit. President Musharraf boarded a small golf-cart driven by President Bush while Mrs Bush drove the cart reserved for Mrs Musharraf.
Before the briefing, President Bush asked President Musharraf if he would care to wear a tie. He declined but the two presidents did wear their jackets for the briefing.
In the formal talks both presidents were assisted by a team of seven-aides each but later President Bush invited his guest for a stroll along the golf course where they had one-on-one talks.
The two leaders and their aides had lunch at the Laurel Cabin near the golf course.
