So Robert Mugabe is ready for “fresh and cooperative relations” with the West. Well that’s a breath of fresh air. The problem, of course, is that we’ve heard this song and dance before.

Here is the script to a movie we’ve all seen:

Act I:

Mugabe ruthlessly pillories and hectors and scathes and condemns the western powers.

Act II:

Mugabe makes a volte face and tosses off a few lines about playing nice.

Act III:

The west does something to get under Mugabe’s skin. (Perhaps this will qualify.)

Act IV:

We see the return of the blistering Mugabe shaking his fist at the “racists” and the “imperialists.”

fin.