Survival of the Fiercest

Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid prides himself on being a master of brinkmanship. This time, however, the blind Muslim cleric seems to have plunged over the edge. In the face of an impeachment hearing before the country's supreme legislative body, the irascible Wahid has antagonized everyone who could possibly prop him up.

These are dark times for Indonesian democracy. Wahid, 61, is the country's first democratically elected President in more than 30 years, and he came into office as a deal maker and reformer. Now he stands charged with misconduct and corruption--to the tune of $6 million. But Wahid's real...