Boy, did we see a different series. The Neil I saw did not
just write off Laura's death. It was a constant pain within that
made him even more of a walking disaster area than he had been
before. It drove him even more than his hatred of the Soviets did,
especially in the second series.
The death of Laura, and Neil's responibility for it, was
his constant companion afterwards. And while it is not Neil's job
to get "upset over the death of his agents" the fact that he did
was one of the marks against him in the eyes of his political masters.
Neil couldn't developed the necessary detatched attitude toward the
pawns in the games of intelligence and political competition. Neil
would sacrifice lives, but not throw them away.
The Neil you descibe would be worthy of being Prime Minister,
the one I saw was going to end up exactly where he was and either forced
out by politicians or he would die of a stress-related heart attack.
Ken Crist
kayuucee@cfar.umd.edu