  Symbiotic stars are thought to show distinct X-ray emission from the
accreting object and from the colliding winds of the two stars. I show that the
colliding wind component is unnecessary. Instead, the spectra can be
interpreted as emission only from the compact object that is strongly absorbed
by the partially-ionised wind of the red giant. There remains no evidence of
any X-ray emission from colliding winds, and thus no need for a substantial
wind from the compact object.
