CHINA — In a recent speech in China, former British prime minister Tony Blair urged his audience to "embrace globalization", speaking of the wonders it had done for the West.  Chinese listeners, currently trying to figure out what to do with their $1.43 trillion (US) in foreign reserves, could only nod in wonder at his wise advice.

Mr. Blair also urged his listeners to fight terrorism by "winning their hearts and minds" — a phrase wholly new and strange in Southeast Asian ears, to be sure.  Mr. Blair then said, "Obviously the preferred method would be surgery, but unfortunately it's slow and horridly expensive, and so not a practical reality.  However, we and our American allies long ago stumbled upon a much better method: bullets.  Yes, bullets, bombs, hand grenades, air-launched missiles; all of which make the liberation of hearts from chest and minds from skulls much easier.  Hearts and minds all over the place, just waiting to be scooped up, put into jars, and placed on display in the British Museum, nicely won-over."  Mr. Blair's handlers then urged him to "belt up, Tony," at which point he changed the subject.