My wife talked me into watching the TV show 24 this year. She's into shows like that, while I almost never watch TV. I figured a fantasy show about terrorism might be worth a comment or two, but I've been holding out to see how the plot twisted. However, after last night's show, with its climactic and rather disastrous kidnap at a Chinese consulate, I had two quick thoughts:

1. The plot turn seems to be toward a superpower confrontation, but in real life don't Americans kill Chinese diplomats all the time and get away with it. What makes this any different?

2. Why didn't this President Palmer guy ask to interview the terror suspect at the Chinese consulate, with the Chinese present, instead of insisting that the Chinese turn him over? That would have been a reasonable request given the circumstances, and would have been a positive trust-building step with China, especially given that the current theory was that the suspect wasn't working for China. The obvious reason was that the U.S. wanted to torture the suspect, but the kidnapping also goes to show that in times of crisis the U.S. goes it alone.

At the end of the episode, superman Jack Bauer shows us he can do math, letting one die to possibly save many, but the stress is finally getting to him. Or perhaps the doubt, as this seems to be his first big mistake? Or maybe he's just so clever, setting the foundation for reconciling with his girlfriend after he's killed her husband right in front of her?