IT WASN'T EASY, BUT SPY PLANE IS COMING HOME

The strange case of the U.S. spy plane that made an emergency landing on a Chinese island is slowly drawing to a conclusion. After much tit-for-tat international posturing, the Chinese government has decided the plane can be returned to the United States.

But wait. It's not that simple. U.S. officials had hoped to be permitted to repair the plane -- damaged when a Chinese jet fighter clipped the cumbersome spy plane in a game of chicken that left the Chinese pilot dead -- and fly it home.

No, said the Chinese government. So U.S. officials began taking the plane apart to be shipped home.

No, said the Chinese government. No U.S. planes. So U.S. officials contracted with a Russian air cargo company to pick up the pieces parts of the spy plane, even though the Russian company may have violated a ban on weapons sales to Yugoslavia.

If a movie is ever made of this episode of Sino-American relations, it will no doubt star wacky Adam Sandler. After all, given everything that's happened so far, the only thing left to do is laugh.