Cases of Conscience

Posted 04:18 GMT
In the Hudson Valley, sitting across from John Brady Kiesling, Mangala stared intently as the young man explained why he had thrown away a 20-year career with the State Department by resigning as political officer in the American embassy in Athens. "Is the Russia of the late Romanovs really our model, a selfish, superstitious empire thrashing toward self-destruction in the name of a doomed status quo," the young man said. "Our closest allies are persuaded less that war is justified than that it would be perilous to allow the U.S. to drift into complete solipsism."

Later, Mangala stepped across the pond to London and stared with equal intesity as Clare Short explained why she threatened to resign from her government post as minister of international development. "If there is not U.N. authority for military action or the reconstruction of the country, I will not uphold a breach of international law or this undermining of the U.N. and I will resign from the government," she said as Mangala nodded with understanding.

Mangala pondered the conversations. "Two people of conscience," he concluded. "But War will survive their consciences, and Empire their reservations."