[Our special correspondent John Derbyshire interviewed the third party
candidate Aloysius Arbuthnot the other day. Dr. Arbuthnot is the candidate
for the Cliche Party. We shall be publishing the transcript of this
interview in instalments.]
D–Mr. Arbuthnot, I understand you are running as a third-party candidate in
November.
A–That’s correct, Mr. Derbyshire. I feel the American people should have a
choice.
D–Perhaps you could explain some of your positions to us. Iraq, for
instance. What will you do?
A–I have a plan. We need strong alliances. That’s what I learned in
Vietnam.
D–I see. But aren’t things going rather badly there right now?
A–It’s tough. It’s hard work. I understand how hard it is.
D–Uh-huh. Do you think the major candidates are addressing this properly?
A–No. They are not being candid with the American people.
D–So let me get this clear. Do you think the war was a mistake in the
first place?
A–The world is safer without Saddam Hussein.
D–Undoubtedly. But what do we do now?
A–We don’t have enough troops there. But I have a plan to bring them home.
D–If the world is safer without Saddam Hussein, wouldn’t it be even safer
without Kim Jong Il?
A–We need a new dialogue with North Korea. Bilateral. Multilateral.
Quadrilateral. Heptagonal. Duodecagonal.
D–But what’s the point of dialogue if they won’t honor agreements?
A–It’s tough. It’s hard work….
[To be continued]