The Best Joke of 2005

From the PBS program News Hour, which included an interview with Bouthaina Shaaban, the spokeswoman for President al-Assad

SIMON MARKS: I'm fascinated to hear a Syrian government minister saying that the United States should invest in liberal, democratic-minded people in Syria.

DR. BOUTHAINA SHAABAN: Absolutely.

SIMON MARKS: Is President Bashar al-Assad a liberal, democratic- minded leader?

DR. BOUTHAINA SHAABAN: He is the first democratic, humble, young, hopeful leader for his country. I think the West doesn't know him, doesn't know what kind of man he is. If they know him, and they know what kind of person he is, and if they truly want democracy and freedom in our region, this is also a very important question. If they truly want peace in our region, they couldn't have a better partner than President Bashar.

My Comment: In Arabic we say, "if you are without shame do what you wish". Or more appropriately in her case "say what you wish"