The Paper Was a Lot Better When It Printed Letters On the Front Page, Too

This morning's Times of London openly mocks George W. Bush's inaugural speech with:

His second-term mission: to end tyranny on Earth

The transformation of George W. Bush to solemn champion of an urgent, messianic mission to transform the world is complete

Sadly, there was a time when the Brits were made of better stuff:

In 1873 the British Navy compelled Sultan BARGASH to abolish slave trade).

The British have long played a role as advisers to the Sultan of Zanzibar. In 1877, Sultan Bargash, in communication with the Germans, refused a British protectorate; in 1880, Germany's chancellor Bismarck rejected a request by the Sultan of Zanzibar for a German protectorate.

In 1886, Britain and Germany, both interested in the acquisition of colonies, agreed on partitioning the mainland territories of the Sultanate, ostensibly to suppress the slave trade the Sultan had nominally abolished and was unable to suppress, technically while respecting the Sultan's sovereignty.

Britain would receive British East Africa (Kenya), while Germany would receive German East Africa (Tanzania).