Essential Components of Budapest Bridge Conveniently Stolen

Just like when oil prices would start to dip and there would be a sudden pipeline leak or "explosion" at a refinery, we were a bit cynical when we came across a piece in hetek.hu that iron fixtures and tools meant for the Szabadság bridge renovations were stolen in Nyíregyháza. The reason we're suspicious? The bridge was due to be completed and handed over next Wednesday for St. Stephen's Day on August 20, but as anyone who's been by recently can attest, that is extremely unlikely to happen. And while metal theft is becoming something of a national pastime in Hungary, what better way to shift the blame for failing to meet deadlines than by having essential parts suddenly go missing? Not that we're suggesting anything.