The Brussels defense

Perhaps the worst part of a political analyst's week are the 2-3 hours of ČT's Sunday debate show, OVM. It's not that the show is bad; it's just excruciatingly long. But those who endure can often pick up some real nuggets. This week, for example, GM Jan Komárek of SŽDC said at the 1:43 mark that if his company's rail-line deals were rigged, the EU would surely intervene, because it helps fund most of them and closely monitors everything. What a brilliant defense! What took politicians and byznys-meni so long? Martin Barták could argue that if defense deals were truly crooked, Nato would certainly object. Martin Roman could say that if ČEZ abused its dominant position, the EU would obviously take action. (Okay, bad example - it did.) But you get the point. A new benchmark has been set. Until the EU, Nato or other Brussels busybody says otherwise, everything must be a-okay in the Czech lands. [Czech Republic European Union Otázky Václav Moravce]