Sword of Damocles
For those who don’t know, the “sword of Damocles” features in a morality tale, as an allusion to the ever-present peril faced by those in positions of power. Damocles was an obsequious courtier in the service of a 4th century Sicilian king. One day, sick of his pandering, the king asked Damocles to occupy his throne for a day. Damocles took it gladly but realized that the king, having made many enemies through his reign, hung a sword above the throne, held up by a single hair of a horse’s tail to evoke the sense of what it is like to have power and luxury, but also a constant fear of enemies. Damocles finally begged the king to let him go because he did not want the great fortune and power that brought so much danger.
And so it came to pass that a rare person in The Great Khan’s court, anxious about the jealousies he had aroused, asked to be relieved of his duties. The other courtiers were shocked that he could give up the pelf and privilege but the gent is unwell and told The Khan that he valued his privacy and quality time with dear ones above all else.
Reluctant admission
At the recent nuptials in the family of The Great Khan’s lieutenant, our mole overheard a reluctant admission from an important government personage. Apparently, it was confessed that the government’s espionage department had conducted a secret survey and discovered that The Man of Steel’s daughter was by far the most popular politico in the Punjab. No surprises there.
Day of Reckoning
We hear the government is going to make good use of the precarious geopolitical situation to ask for a delay in the FATF Day Of Reckoning. This was originally scheduled for next month, but we may get a grace period, given neighbourhood tensions.