The Frog and the Poodle: Remember when the Times of London was viewed as the world's most prestigious newspaper? When it stood apart from the rest of the tabloid rags in Europe? Well, Murdoch bought it a while back, and did to the Times what he's done to the LA Dodgers and the NY Post: vulgarized and cheapened what had once been classy institutions. This editorial, which compares the war against the villains of 9/11 with "a search for the perfect cosmetic surgery", all the while attacking French President Jacques Chirac for opposing an invasion of Iraq (which it compares with research for a cancer cure), must represent a nadir in punditry [registration required]. It's nice that the voice of the British establishment views our efforts to capture the Al Qaeda murderers as being equivalent to Princess Di's search for the ideal hair coloring, or the right nose job for Posh Spice. Don't worry, Brits: we'll make Baghdad safe for B.P. !!