Gentleman: If you want to undermine someone, it is not necessary to bash him. Just defend him very badly and at the same time save your face.
Interloper: Sir, can you give me an example? Gentleman: Yes, dear. Look, a Turkmen writer, Dordi Kariyev, has said that the Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov should be given a title of prophet of the third millennium.
The writer is really spoiling the Turkmen president instead of defending him.
Interloper: Sir, one swallow does not make summer. Can you give me another example? Gentleman: Yes, my dear. Look at the Saturday issue of one of the Persian-language dailies of our country. In an almost similar manner, it published a full page photo of President Khatami.
Do you think it has defended him? Interloper: Sir, they love him; no, they adore him. This is why they publish his large photo and give wonderful coverage to him.
Gentleman: My sweet friend, it is a bad defense, which is worse than bashing. Understand?