The United States has guessed right that the idea would be unlikely to pass in a referendum here. And for various reasons, for some of which the United States itself is to be blamed.

Approval of a base would amount to a significant obliging step made at the expense of Czech sovereignty, and it would therefore be only logical to expect the other side to take a step just as obliging. But the United States has made no hint that it would change its stand on the visa issue in connection with an eventual base here. It is of course up to the United States to say who is allowed to enter that country. Still, it should bear in mind the existence of a joint European Union visa policy and the need to treat all EU member states as equals, a fact being still ignored by the United States.

Even if U.S. President George W. Bush promised to abolish the visa duty for Central European states while visiting Bratislava some time ago, it soon became clear that he was giving a promise he could not keep. The visa agenda is in the authority of the U.S. Congress, which makes no secret of its wish to tighten restrictions. Only Poles see the light of hope at the end of the tunnel for their loyal service in Iraq. In the long run, we see discrimination: Some EU citizens can visit the United States without visas, while others wind up facing bureaucracy.

It's also damaging that talks have been held in secret, hidden not just from public view but also that of most political officials. Any lack of information offers grounds for speculation and mistrust. Transparent talks could have prevented the public's negative reaction. Instead, politicians have been avoiding doing so for such a long time that the issue took on a life of its own. And once there was — at last — a public discussion on the subject, the story already included a lot of myth.

This was a hardly understandable political mistake in a country that still remembers the negative experience of foreign troops on its territory, Bfiezina writes.

The party won't agree with any government supported by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM). And it won't support early elections.

Fulfilling the desires of the KDU-ČSL means that nobody will ever rule. Parties have mysterious attitudes. The KSČM will support the Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), but knows that the other three parties promised they won't support the ČSSD because of the KSČM.

ČSSD will support only themselves, the KSČM and experts. Such a government won't be supported by others. Topolánek will be for early elections. He is creating a government that won't be backed in a month.

What are we supposed to think about such politics? The only person who behaves sensibly from his point of view is Paroubek. The more mysteries and failed governments, the more hope there is that one day people will consider even his strong foot marching through Prague as a solution.