Exactly my sentiments. If there's one thing G isn't, it's stupid. I'm sure he weighed in on the republican backlash before making this decision. And like Kanak said in his Nepalisite article, given the high stakes involved, there's GOT TO BE a trump card up his sleeves. And that trump card could be anything from an implicit prior understanding with the Maoists (or at least a faction of it, as talks of a split in the Maoist ranks is also rumoured) to sheer confindence in being able to SHOW IT to the people that he and his rule can make a difference in areas that matter most to majority Nepalis: issues like immediate restoration of peace, provision of basic services, curbing corruption etc. Whatever his game, he has very little time to reveal it. In the meantime, most Nepalis in Kathmandu it seems, including myself are happy to resign ourselves to circustances we have no control over and wait and see how he wiggles out of the diplomatic shit he's presently in.