"There's no weapon that slays its victim so surely . . . as praise."
That line from the poet Edward Robert Bulwar Lytton (1831-1891) came to mind this week when President George Bush received warm praise from an unlikely source - the erratic Libyan tyrant, Col. Moammar Gadhafi.Having learned the hard way that underwriting terrorism only called down U.S. bombs on his head, Gadhafi may be trying a new tactic to puzzle his many enemies.
In a radio speech, Gadhafi described the Bush administration as "reasonable and mature" and said it "understands international politics." He also invited American and Soviet companies to explore for oil in Libya. The local cash register must be running short. Libya took over all foreign oil companies in 1973 and 1974.
The warm words from Gadhafi may be more uncomfortable for the Bush administration than any denunciation ever was. When types like Gadhafi start voicing praise, it's enough to make the president wonder what he has been doing wrong.