<HTML>In a message dated 8/16/2002 1:20:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time, carlremick@hotmail.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">execs the world over are pretty fungible, and despite their supposed preference for a "level playing field" what they all want is a comfy mud wallow. </BLOCKQUOTE> I agree. Also, I didn't read the rest of the WSJ article, but I'm not quite sure what their point is - US corporate governance is better?!?. If anything it's the opposite; many large European utilities that used to be national are still partially owned by the government, try getting the US to buy 55% of WorldCom's businesses and monitor them. France Tel (55% owned by the French govt) recently ousted MobilCom's founder and boss Gerhard Schmid. Jean-Marie Messier got chucked from Vivendi in July amidst allegations of fraud. The media goliath Bertelsmann booted Middlehoff a couple weeks ago. And Ron Sommer stepped down as Deutsche Tel's CEO due to German government (which holds a 45% stake) pressure. I'd compare these guys to Gary Winnick of Global Crossing, Bernie Ebbers of WorldCom and Philip Anschutz of Qwest anyday. They stink equally. Nomi </HTML>