Feminist politics at work.(INSIDER REPORT)

When accused rapist Brian Nichols was unhandcuffed for his arraignment in Atlanta's Fulton County Superior Court, he over-powered his solitary guard and seized the officer's firearm. While making his escape, Nichols allegedly killed four people--trial Judge Rowland Barnes, court reporter Julie Ann Brandau, Deputy Hoyt Teasley, and federal agent David Wilhelm.

After evading a less-than-effective police dragnet by using public transportation, Nichols eventually arrived at the home of Ashley Smith, a 26-year-old widow and single mother. Smith, as is now well known, spent seven hours as Nichols' hostage, calmly reasoning with him and sharing Bible-based insights that persuaded the fugitive to surrender to the authorities.

Ashley Smith displayed astonishing strength of character of a sort rare in people of both sexes. However, this entire tragedy may have been avoided if law enforcement officials in Atlanta had taken into account insurmountable realities about the differences between men and women where physical strength is concerned. Nichols was able to escape because a small-boned, 5'2" female deputy (a grandmother) had been assigned to guard the 6'1" muscular former college football player.

Television shows such as Alias and action films like Starship Troopers regularly feature scenes in which petite young females, deploying exotic martial arts techniques, beat up large, muscular men. Diverting though such sci-fi spectacles may be, the underlying delusions about sex-based differences in upper body strength and the capacity for violent aggression are literally fatal in the real world--as the Atlanta murder spree illustrates.

Why was Nichols ...