Honneur et Patrie

Having lucked out in my seat-of-the-pants instant dismissal of the Horie email, I am of a mood to take a shot at fingering the author of the New York Times editorial "Japan's Offensive Minister" ( IHT, February 13).

The envelope please...

And the Fickle Finger of Fate points to...Shanghai-based Times Senior Writer Howard W. French

Oh, I may be wrong in pinning the blame on Mr. French...still, I cannot forget his abbreviated stay in the Times Tokyo Bureau, wherein he managed to win, within only a few months, the coveted official "Not a Friend of Japan" designation.

Besides, who else among the Times writers gives a hoot about the Japanese Cabinet?