Life as it really is.

It is a brutal fact of life that, both as individuals and as a nation, we have at times to deal with people and countries that we'd rather not deal with - and up to a point we may have to deal with them on their terms. China and Saudi Arabia are two such. The current soul-searching about China and the Olympics, and Saudi Arabia and possible back-handers needs to be kept in perspective. The Olympics were given to Beijing whether we like it or not, and we have to deal with it. Bribery, sweeteners, call it what you will, is a standard way of doing business in the Saudi part of the world, and once again we have to deal with it. I think it's called realpolitik.