Mr O'Neill's version may be more virtuous, but the latter has its uses: it encourages openness, not least in the Praetorian guard around the president.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

Well-placed diplomats believe Hezbollah is also providing part of the regime's inner praetorian guard, as some of the big Alawite clans have become so alienated by the level of casualties they have suffered that their members are no longer regarded as fully reliable.

BBC: Syria: Proxy war heats up as endgame inches closer

This most hated man in the republic, however, remains a member in good standing of Putin's siloviki praetorian guard and has just delivered all of Ingushetia's votes for Unified Russia.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: In Russia, a landslide to tyranny