Washington will substantially reduce military exercises with South Korea. The official reason is a mixture of unpaid favours and good manners.
Seoul declined to help on Iran. The North has been rated unthreatening and respectful. The remedy is fewer helicopters and a new rota of compliments, read aloud at dawn.
The Office of Reciprocal Courtesy opened a desk overnight and issued the only remark on offer.
Live fire is a blunt tool. A laminated thank-you note uses less fuel and offends fewer people who are currently in favour.
One is reminded, inevitably, of every alliance that has ever been invoiced like a dinner bill. The tanks stay in the shed. The shed, we are told, is the point.
