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lives. In the immediate aftermath of Nine-Eleven, Mr. Giuliani seemed to be everywhere. He walked the streets of New York to assess the pulse and to encourage and reassure when and where he could. He became America's mayor in the wake of Nine-Eleven, and is to be commended for his efforts, but again, being the leopard he is, he couldn't change his spots. As his term was winding down and Mike Bloomberg was about to assume the mayoralty, Mr. Giuliani suggested that his term be extended, for continuity's sake. This suggestion was roundly rejected by Mr. Bloomberg and the people of New York. It is the suggestion itself that provides further insight into the Giuliani psyche. Not only does he have an enormous ego, like President Bush, he is very convinced of the correctness of his ideas and initiatives. This is dangerous for a number of reasons, as we have witnessed in Iraq.

It was the perpetuation of the tough guy image that encouraged him to associate himself with other tough guys like his flawed Police Chief Bernard Kerik. Mr. Giuliani had foreknowledge of the allegations of malfeasance against Mr. Kerik and short circuited a full investigation that would have revealed Mr. Kerik's underhanded dealings with a contractor who is alleged to have had mob connections. Mr. Giuliani compounded his error by proposing Mr. Kerik for Homeland Security Chief. This and other actions since seriously calls into question Mr. Giuliani's judgment. His chief fundraiser rapes countries by buying their debts and selling them back at exorbitant rates. The chairman of his South Carolina campaign is alleged to be a drug dealer. These miscalculations pale in comparison to suggesting that he would enter Pakistan, one of our chief ally in the so-called war on terror. He would risk alienating Pakistan, knowing that Mr. Musharrif, its president, is on shaky ground, and an action such as he has suggested might be enough to send him into the abyss.

Thus far Mr. Giuliani has been successful in selling the America's mayor image, despite his sometime liberal leanings. How much longer he will be able to carry on the ruse is anyone's guess. One thing is certain, a leopard can't change his spots, nor can Mr. Giuliani avoid who he is underneath the heroic exterior
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