Unfortunately, far from instilling confidence, Dr. Rice's throw-away line about her arms control pedigree offers a prism through which one can see clearly what increasingly is wrong with American foreign policy, over which she exercises virtually unchallenged sway.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Arms controllers return

Having moved through a dust storm, we discover that we can see even more clearly than before.

FORBES: Dust Storms: Finding Our Way Home

The deeper wisdom in bringing in Mr McCain is that he is a glass through which New York's sceptical voters can see Mr Giuliani's considerable virtues more clearly.

ECONOMIST: Rudy don��t care

Then there were sections of swamp "that were easy to walk through, " but had their own hazards: "When you can clearly see gators 100 feet in front of you, it makes it more intimidating sometimes, " he said.

CNN: Pythons elusive in first days of Florida hunt