Is it a prerequisite among politicians to pluck your eyes out and refuse to see the world? Or do they just have their heads up their butts?

I am discouraged (to say the least) by comments made by the Russian atomic energy minister, Alexander Rumyantsev, regarding the scope of deaths related to the Chernobyl disaster. 200? Somehow I think there were more than that, and perhaps more in generations to come. At least he recognises that steps taken seventeen years ago to entomb the reactor are crumbling and need to be reinforced. Bully for him.