Final Word from Wednesday, October 26, 2016
At what point did the Jiří Brady matter turn into an intelligence operation against Miloš Zeman and the east-tilting oligarchs who support him? It probably didn't start out this way. It probably wasn't concocted by Daniel Herman in a sit-down with his friend the German ambassador (who is an ex-vice president of the BND spy service and will soon head Nato's intelligence operations). It probably started as a routine effort by Herman to get a medal of honor for his uncle. (Release of Herman's letter to Zeman would shed light on this.) It became much more, and to understand what is at stake, review the case of Filipino Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. The U.S. is close to losing its biggest Asian ally. This is the big picture that is missed by Czech journalists who say it is "absurd" to suggest that an 88-year-old man (Brady) would be part of some game. The unanswered question this time is whether the anti-Zeman operation, like so many Western ones before it, won't achieve the opposite of the desired effect. It could easily end up increasing support among Czechs for Zeman and his oligarchs. [Czech Republic Philippines Germany]
Glossary of difficult words
to tilt - to move or cause to move into a sloping position; to change or cause to change in favor of one person or thing as opposed to another;
to concoct - to create or devise (a story or plan);
sit-down - a period of sitting down.