For the Love of Mike

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had to cut short a visit to Brunei last week because her government discoveredand quashedanother coup attempt. According to her military Chief of Staff, generals were being offered $180,000 to help bring down the government and grunts $900. On her arrival back in Manila, Arroyo saluted a troop of assembled soldiers and described the threats against her as "futile." Blaring in the background was Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive.

Restive soldiers are not Arroyo's only problem. She faces a bloody insurgency in the south, a deteriorating currency and a looming presidential election campaign...