Mohammed Mossadegh’s latest hunger strike was a turkey, but no one who has ever tried to go on a diet will want to be too harsh about it. If Mossadegh was a cookie-nibbler all during the alleged strike, as his prosecutor charges, what of it? Every dieter or would-be dieter who has opened an ice-box door will sympathize. For contented calories there is nothing the beat of a surreptitious nibble.

Maybe Mossadegh didn’t get as many spectators or as much space in the newspapers as he was striking for. Maybe the less famous dieters didn’t lose as many pounds as they aimed to. So, we repeat, what?

Just pass that cold leg of chicken, fellow, and stand back out of the way.