■"Good News About Poverty: Poorer nations are leading the way," op-ed by David Brooks, New York Times, 27 November 2004, p. A35.

■"Quiet Time: A new Saudi law silences dissent by public employees," op-ed by Khalid Al-Dakhil, New York Times, 27 November 2004, p. A35.

■"Iranís Lonely Crowd: Being an intellectual means keeping your thoughts to yourself," op-ed by Farouz Farzami, New York Times, 27 November 2004, p. A35.

■"Saving the Iraqi Children: Child malnutrition is soaring," op-ed by Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, 27 November 2004, p. A35.

No real commenting on the articles themselves, just noting the pattern array: one piece on how globalization is working and then three pieces on negative politico-military situations in three key pillars of the Middle Eastóa region that sucks at globalization.

These are the stories of our time: excel at globalization or become a security issue for the worldís Leviathan. It really is that simple.