A country of beauty is in danger of turning into a beast. The Kingdom of Thailand, the land of the smiling people, the gorgeous countryside and a storied history as the once-upon-a-time Siam, now has a severe case of the political uglies. This constitutional democracy, anchored by a long-running monarchy, is in danger of heading down a fascist path.
For America, the proper question is what, if any, is our place and role in the unfolding tragedy — what can we appropriately do to help?
To be sure, it would be illegitimate for the U.S. government to intrude in any way into the politics of Thailand. Washington must accept any government that's a legitimate and constitutional one.