COL (cry out loud)

When two people fight, say the Czechs, it's the third person who laughs. Often, though, when two Czechs fight, others learn things that make them want to cry. In politics, Mirek Topolánek and Pavel Bém went public with their money-grubbing, and Praguers heard from the horses' mouth how their city is being run by racketeers. In business, when Prazdroj launched its campaign for pure Czech beer, beerheads choked when they found out what nasty stuff is contained in their favorite brewskis. When lawyer Miroslav Jansta denied someone his percentage from the Poštovní spořitelna deal, LN was given the inside scoop on how ČSOB and CA IB pulled it off. When Czech Coal and ČEZ clashed over dividing up Northern Bohemia, residents of the Czech electrostate learned how much fun can be had in Tuscany in the summer. And then there's the very enlightening fight this week over gambling territory.... Czechs are wrong to insist that their leaders quit bickering: It's the only time they learn what's really going on.