IT'S SATIRE, JIM, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

Following the Arab European League's [possibly unintentionally] humorous foray into the cartoon controversy, Iran has picked up the standard, and plans to "satirise" the Holocaust, with a public competition to find the most suitable cartoons. The AEL cartoons are:






















Let's hope Iran's choices are funnier than these, and indeed those which started the whole shebang in the first place.

Iran's best-selling newspaper said Monday it would run images satirizing the Holocaust after the publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad in European newspapers, The Guardian reports Tuesday without citing sources. The right-wing Hamshari daily is to launch an international competition to find the most suitable caricatures. Newspaper Web site: http://www.guardian.co.uk

I can't help thinking this is no way for grown-ups to behave; it does beat other forms of distracting the electorate though, as in the Argentinian junta's invasion of the Falklands, Russia's invasion of Chechnaya - and our very own Royal scandals (doesn't really measure up, does it, although Royal Scandal vs Cartoon Debacle is probably a fair fight). Bring on the cartoons! Rev up the satire! Make no difference whatsoever, but do run around like a headless chicken!