Tuesday, December 16, 1998 -- HONG KONG -- Okay, okay, okay.

You've managed to get our attention out here in the far flung reaches of the former British Empire. Three down and one to go -- well, at least it gave me something to report. Just a word to the G-O-P, though, despite the wishes of the people you have managed to focus world attention away from serious issues -- for all the wrong reasons. Bad boys. And girls.

But after making the U.S.A. something of a laughing stock among those of us who do not consider lying to cover up a consensual sexual affair a high crime -- enough of your party are hopefully going to have the good sense to cross the floor and vote against this nonsense going to the Senate. Monica can write her book, Jones can spend her dough, Tripp can slip into obscurity - and the rest of us can get on with things that really affect Mr and Mrs Joe Public.

This time next week all we should have is a bad taste in our mouths -- and not the possibility of many more months of accusation and counter-accusation. Put this to bed people -- let it go.

Over in Britain, meanwhile, we have another drama unfolding that has far reaching consequences -- and no one is laughing at the British equivalent of the Senate -- The House of Lords. Their tough decision to hold former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet accountable for his crimes followed by Home Secretary Jack Straw's even tougher call preventing Pinochet the opportunity to escape justice has made a lot of us Brits quite proud of our Parliamentary and judicial system. For once.

Dictators and former dictators around the world -- take note -- the good guys are coming to getcha! Maybe. If you are a poverty stricken 'Baby' Doc then I would seriously consider disappearing. No one will give a damn if he is taken to task for his crimes. But for the more well-heeled and well-connected, the Pinochet affair may offer them the chance to close off a few loopholes in international law. Let's hope not.

Closer to home -- my home -- we saw former Indonesian dictator Suharto questioned for four hours on his ill-gotten wealth. To be sure, the courtesy afforded Suharto far exceeded that offered to POTUS. But then he was a dictator and not a democratically elected 'man of the people'. Not that too many of us actually think the hearings will achieve anything. He'll give up a few logging concessions and his kids and cronies might find competing on a level playing field with other captains of industry a little difficult. I seriously doubt, and am will to put hard earned money on this, none of them will go to jail. They might get lynched -- but that's another ball of wax.

The trial of Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim is an unfolding comedy. There have been so many cases of obvious perjury I don't think anyone believes for a second that -- like the U.S. impeachment process -- this is anything other than political. I suppose that we can be thankfull that Ken Starr didn't beat the crap out of POTUS during the thought to be private but now well publicised q&a sessions.

And we could never consider quitting a 'newsdesk' piece without a word on events in Iraq. How times change. Nixon got impeached for trying to get the goods on the Dems -- the inspection teams just walk right in. And the Iraqis aren't allowed to get pissed?

--Chris Gelken