For Better Or For Worse

Australian activist organization GetUp created this video in support of marriage equality and it's too precious to not post.  Gay couples face the same struggles and triumphs straight couples do... so why not let them tie the knot?

Lesbian Binational Couple Gets A Break

In a step that could mean reprieve for hundreds of binational same-sex couples across the nation, a judge has halted the deportation process for Sujey Pando, a Mexican national who was brought to the US at the age of 16 and then disowned by her family because she is a lesbian.  She is married to her longtime partner Violeta, having taken advantage of marriage equality in the state of Iowa.

She was due to be deported back to Mexico, an issue her siblings avoided because her parents obtained citizenship for them.  Due to her sexuality, the same steps were not taken to keep Sujey in the US.

The judge was acting on a directive published by the Obama administration last week in an attempt to prioritize deportations to keep non-threatening nationals from being kicked out of their adopted country.  Immigration has pledged to review the 300,000 deportation cases currently pending to ensure that the individuals being deported are a threat to the security and well-being of Americans.

In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) today, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano explains that the case-by-case approach was first detailed in March 2010 and recently reiterated in a memorandum from June, 2011. She argues that the process will enhance public safety and allow immigration judges “to more swiftly adjudicate high priority cases, such as those involving convicted felons.” “This process will also allow additional federal enforcement resources to be focused on border security and the removal of public safety threats,” she argues. 

The new process is a result of a long-standing administration policy to ensure that the nation is “not clogging the system with folks who are not maximum priorities,” a senior administration official explained. Lower-priority deportation cases “are being set aside so we can focus more on our more serious cases of convicted criminals and other high priority categories.”

Pando's attorney, Levi Soloway, explains from his blog Stop the Deportations:

"Today Denver Immigration Judge Mimi Tsankov halted the deportation of Sujey Pando and scheduled a new hearing to consider an application based on her marriage to her U.S. citizen wife, Violeta Pando. Because today's hearing was intended to be a final decision day on Sujey's deportation, the judge's action was unusual; she spent 45 minutes methodically considering the procedural posture of the case. In the end, the Judge set aside the intended purpose of the hearing, citing developments including the Attorney General's intervention in a similar case in May (Matter of Dorman) and noted that the issues involved in this case existed in a context that was "fluid" and "in a state of flux." The Judge referred to events that occurred as recent as yesterday as having an impact on how to proceed. Yesterday, the DHS Secretary Napolitano ordered a review of all pending deportation cases for possible closure, including those involving LGBT families."

 So basically, the administration has set a precedent that confuses the issue enough that it is no longer crystal-clear that these undocumented immigrants require deportation.  Whatever the reason, Sujey and Violeta have much to celebrate.  Congratulations to them.

OneAngryClotheshorse: Wesley Darling is mad at Zara - you should be too.

Hello lovers! Since Ian Awesome is in transition (and no, he's not becoming a woman) I thought I'd bring some serious fashion news to your attention. Spanish fast-fashion* chain Zara, makers of some of the most consistently cute (and relatively inexpensive) clothing known to bargain-hunters anywhere, have broken my heart a little bit.

According to Brazilian newspaper Reoporter Brasil, Zara has recently come under investigation for using a third-party supplier who contracts slave-like child labor to make their garments. Among their findings were reports of children as young as 14 and 15 working in unsanitary conditions for periods of 16 hours at a time, and being paid as little as 274-460 Brazilian Real a year (Between 175 and 285 USD).

This hearkens back to the dark days of the '90s, when everyone from Kathie Lee Gifford to The Gap was under investigation for using child labor. It was THE hot-button topic for some time, and while the media has not focused on this subject recently, clearly it is still a major problem. The rhetoric from retailers has always been "We had no idea our garments were produced this way," but isn't it the brand's responsibility to find out where their clothes are coming from?

The presence of suppliers like the one found in Brazil also bring up a serious question for the consumer - is that $12 top really too good to be true? Maybe doing a bit more research about where your super el-cheapo fashion finds were constructed would be helpful in discouraging further human rights violations. As yours truly puts it, "Perhaps my jeans WERE exorbitantly expensive, but they weren't made in a sweaty windowless box by children."

*Fast-fashion is a generic term for the inexpensively produced, trendy garments that are inspired by the most current runway looks. Usually shopping in these stores requires lots of screaming, grabbing, and occasionally fist-fighting with other savvy fashionistas, in order to secure the perfect outfit.

Dan Choi Reports From Amsterdam

Dan Choi spent the weekend hootin' it up with the Amsterdam gays for their Pride celebration, being included in their "parade"-- a flotilla of gaylicious Pride floats chuggin' down the canals of the Netherlands' largest city.

Dan never misses an opportunity to dress up.

"This weekend, in front of half a million Dutch families and revelers, the Amsterdam Gay Pride parade showcased a truly historic statement: 85 gay (including 2 transgender) servicemembers in full dress uniform with Dutch Defense Ministry officials in the first ever sanctioned military gay pride contingent. Three active duty gay generals were with us on the uber-gay float. We were literally floating, too: the canals that line the city of Amsterdam, built in the 17th century, were our parade route. Lots of saluting, lots of cheering, lots of dancing… lots of 'IN THE NAVY' blasted over and over and over again. (Did you know the song was originally owned by US Navy Recruiting? …hat-tip: Michael Bedwell)

"British Lieutenant Commander Mandy MacBain, Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer for the Royal Naval Service joined me in officially opening 'Canal Pride 2011' with an appropriate theme: 'All Together Now.' In spirit of cooperation we held the scissors together while cutting the pink boa held by leaders of PRO-GAY, the group organizing the parade. Her partner Joanna joined us on the boat, and the three of us comprised the foreign contingent. They set up flags for us near the back of the boat but by the time the parade kicked off, the soldiers pushed us to the front, to stand with their generals. This was quite an unexpected honor."

Dan also celebrated our President's birthday with a cake baked by the Democrats Abroad:

Let him eat cake.

Jane from FireDogLake has his whole account of the trip, click on over.  Dan even got flipped off by an anti-war Niederlander!  What luck.  I would have gone (the Dutch Ambassador was just screaming for my attendance) but I was clearly far too busy playing Battlestar Galactica Online to be in his boat thingy.  Whatevs!  

Barry O To Anti-Gay Bigots: "Haterz, Stay Out!"

The Obama administration has taken a firm stance against human rights abusers seeking entry to the United States today, proclaiming that verified bigots who work to oppress LGBTs are not allowed.

"The proclamation bars entry of immigrant and non-immigrant aliens who organize or participate in war crimes or serious violations of human rights — which could include those seeking to pass legislation in Uganda that would institute the death penalty for homosexual acts.

"'The United States’ enduring commitment to respect for human rights and humanitarian law requires that its Government be able to ensure that the United States does not become a safe haven for serious violators of human rights and humanitarian law and those who engage in other related abuses,' Obama states."

The benefits of this proclamation are twofold:  Not only are we protecting our citizenry from assholism from overseas, we pressure foreign legislators (like those jerks trying to execute gays in Uganda) to lighten up on their LGBT citizens.

Pat Buchanan Hearts Norwegian Terrorists

More douchebaggery from social conservatives concerning the terrorist attack by Anders Breivik in Norway, with Pat Buchanan weirdly supporting the mass murderer's point:

"But, awful as this atrocity was, native-born and homegrown terrorism is not the macro-threat to the continent.

"That threat comes from a burgeoning Muslim presence in a Europe that has never known mass immigration, its failure to assimilate, its growing alienation, and its sometime sympathy for Islamic militants and terrorists.

"Europe faces today an authentic and historic crisis.

"With her native-born populations aging, shrinking and dying, Europe’s nations have not discovered how to maintain their prosperity without immigrants. Yet the immigrants who have come – from the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia – have been slow to learn the language and have failed to attain the educational and occupational levels of Europeans. And the welfare states of Europe are breaking under the burden.[...]

"As for a climactic conflict between a once-Christian West and an Islamic world that is growing in numbers and advancing inexorably into Europe for the third time in 14 centuries, on this one, Breivik may be right."

I would posit that, since there have been NO Muslim terrorist attacks in Europe in recent years, the "crisis" Buchanan refers to probably doesn't fucking exist.

Glenn Beck Is Even More Disgusting Than Usual

Glenn Beck has left Fox News and is floundering about in radioland, but that doesn't stop the Tea Party favorite from being a shocking pig.

The world watched in horror Friday as news broke of a bombing-shooting spree attack in Norway, with anti-Islamic Christian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik claiming responsibility for the deadly and reprehensible mass murder of the 76 victims.

While some are extending their condolences to the families of victims and attempting to stand with Norway in solidarity, perennial douchebag Glenn Beck is taking this opportunity to compare the Utøya campers to Hitler Youth:

"Glenn Beck, the rightwing US broadcaster and Tea Party favourite, has compared those who were massacred on the Norwegian island of Utøya to the Nazi party's youth wing.

"'There was a shooting at a political camp, which sounds a little like the Hitler youth, or, whatever. I mean, who does a camp for kids that's all about politics. Disturbing,' said Beck on his syndicated radio show."

Not only is this a disgusting attempt to spin and politicize a national tragedy, the Tea Party-aligned Beck would do well to keep his mouth shut on political indoctrination camps.  After all, the Tea Party itself has one, teaching children Ayn Rand's drivel on socioeconomics.  From The Week:

What other principles will Liberty School impart?

"Timeless and incorruptible" ones, gleaned from the organizers' understanding of the Constitution and other writings of the founding fathers. And how will these lessons be taught? Here are some examples:
The gold standard is superior: The camp will have a store where kids can buy things using hard, wrapped candies (representing gold), or a paper currency that will lose its purchasing power throughout the week. "Some of the kids will fall for it," Lukens says. "Others kids will wise up." Max Read at Gawker finds "the idea of a My First Federal Reserve setting monetary policy... rather endearing." But Salon's Alex Pareene is confused: "What will children buy at the 'store' if they already have candy?"
"America is good": The kids will start by sitting quietly in a bare room (Europe), then progress through an obstacle course to a festive party room (the New World), where red, white, and blue confetti will be thrown about. Then the kids will have to clean up the confetti, to teach them that freedom requires work and responsibility. Maybe,says Gawker's Read, but I bet the smart ones "use their hard, wrapped candies to pay other kids to clean up the confetti."
Socialism is bad: The campers will blow bubbles from a communal tub of soapy water, then use squirt guns to shoot other kids' bubbles, tallying the number they pop. Next, they will switch to individual bubble containers, popping their own bubbles, to learn "that you can do a lot more with individual freedom," says Lukens. Huh? says Kirsten Boyd Johnson at Wonkette. Everyone knows "popping other kids' bubbles is way more fun than popping your own."

Dear Glenn Beck: just shut the fuck up already.

Taiwan Hearts New York Marriage Equality

Ghana Orders Arrest Of All Gays

The Western Region Minister in Ghana began a witchhunt today, urging landlords and tenants to snitch on their gay neighbors in order to arrest them.  Who knows what is going to happen to these poor people.

From a Ghanaian anti-gay website:

'Mr. Paul Aidoo minced no words at all in his dislike for the practice. He stated that 'all efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society.'

"He said once they are arrested they will be hauled before court to test the strength of the law which frowns upon homosexuality in the country.

"But a Lawyer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has challenged the legitimacy of the minister's action.

"Ernest Kofi Abotsie told Joy News’ Dzifah Bampoh that no person can be arrested for breach of morality, explaining that the law on 'unnatural canal knowledge' in the criminal code is still ambiguous and cannot necessarily be said to be the same as homosexuality."

This is horrifying, and I will assert that our administration should and must condemn this action.  

Vatican Gets Whiny About UN Resolution For Gays

The Vatican's head of the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, Archbishop Tomasi, stomped his ineffectual feet over the UN's resolution supporting global LGBT rights in a statement denouncing the promotion of non-discrimination on the worldwide stage.

Via LezGetReal:

"The resolution marks a change. It is seen as the beginning of a movement within the international community and the United Nations to insert gay rights in the global human rights agenda."

Yes!  You're right, padre!  And people are starting to understand that that's a good thing, no thanks to you.

It's worth noting that the Vatican really has no ability to do anything about the resolution, as they're not even a member nation of the UN.  So there.  

In Which China Tries To Boss Us Around

China took their crazy train to the US yesterday, warning officials that they shouldn't meet with the leader-in-exile of Tibet during his visit to Washington DC.  Which is going to be hard to follow, cuz Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero already did.

The Chinese government regularly engages in smear campaigns against the peacenik Nobel Prize winner in an attempt to paint him as fomenting violent revolt in Tibet.  Um, have they never read his books?

"On Thursday, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and other senior U.S. lawmakers also met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

"Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing's position on the Dalai Lama's foreign visits was clear.

"'We oppose the underhand visits of the Dalai Lama which he uses to engage in activities to split the motherland,' Hong told a regular news briefing.

"'At the same time, we also oppose any foreign government or politicians supporting or abetting in such activities by the Dalai Lama,' he added.

"'We hope that the United States strictly abide by its promises on the Tibet issue and ... cautiously and appropriately deal with relevant issues,' Hong said."

While the US is officially neutral in the Tibet/China issue, President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama last year amid strong denunciation from Beijing.  To which I say: Fuck off, China.  We can meet with whoever we please.  While we get that you're all about being able to control the flow of information to your populace, you cannot dictate to your allies who we let come over for tea.

India's HIV Drugs Negotiations: Millions Will Die If New Restrictions Are Added

With prices of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) in the US skyrocketing without any end in sight, one of the most important tools to fighting HIV/AIDS globally is the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Due to less regulation and a canny understanding of the "free market," their crucial HIV drugs are sold at substantially lower costs than here in the US. This allows impoverished nations in third-world regions the ability to treat this deadly disease, and that in and of itself is a boon. So why would we tamper with the system?

You and I wouldn't, but the European Union's current trade negotiations with India might.

The new, ineptly named "free trade agreement" might include incredibly damaging restrictions, including patent protections and border enforcement rules that will hamstring the ability of the Indian pharmaceutical industry to produce generic versions of the ARVs available in the US. Keep in mind that this is wildly important: while my Truvada I take daily is around $30 a pill here, it's available for just pennies in equatorial Africa.

Michel Sidibe, the executive director for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has lambasted the proposed restrictions as disastrous, stating in plain language that millions not only could, but will die if we restrict the ARV trade with India.

"'India should resist removing any flexibility because any trade agreement which could lead to India not being able to produce will be terrible for the rest of the world,' said Michel Sidibe, executive director for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

"'Millions of people will die if India cannot produce and Africa will be the most affected. For me, it is an issue of life or death,' he told Reuters in an interview, adding that about 86 percent of people on treatment were taking drugs made in India."

World leaders need to stop kowtowing to the demands of Big Pharm interests. These sorts of ridiculous policies reflect the actual concerns of pharmaceutical companies; instead of health and well-being for sick populations, the driving greed for profits is what fuels these entities.

"As If"

I've long considered myself an ally to slutty dressers everywhere, cuz hey!  Who doesn't like showing of their goodies?  Thus, I really appreciated this Scottish ad spot eviscerating the "she was asking for it" excuse for rape.




Thanks to Justin Rosario of Filthy Liberal Scum for the tip.

French Reject Marriage Equality

As a staunch francophile, I'm sad to say that the French Parliament rejected the Socialist Party proposal to make same-sex marriage legal in France.  The effort was led by politicians hoping to put France on the same level as neighboring Spain and Belgium, but Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative UMP faction defeated the law in the Parliament, leaving Socialist MPs to swear for a renewed effort in 2012.

"The house, dominated by the ruling right-wing UMP party, voted by 293 votes to 222 to block the bill, with most left-wing lawmakers backing it and most of the right opposed.

"'We are against homophobia but we do not want to alter the image and function of marriage in the collective subconscious,' said UMP lawmaker Michel Diefenbacher."

Dear France: You're my favorite, and a really stinkin' gay-ass country.  Can we please get it together?  Stop worrying about the "collective subconscious" and start worrying about giving French citizens equal protections under the law.  I'm pullin' for ya!

[France24]

Geek Shit Wednesday, Vol. XIII

New Project Aims To Save Amphibians Via Social Networking

Living in the Facebook Age, it seems every two seconds we are presented with yet another opportunity to "Save the World!!!" via social networking.  Why, this here blog thingy wouldn't have a single reader or any impact whatsoever were it not for diligent and obnoxious use of Facebook and Twitter for promotion on behalf of its author.

Sometimes, however, a project has actual scientific impact geared towards "Saving the World!!!" or, in this case, "Saving the Frogs!!!"

"The Global Amphibian Blitz is a website that lets amateur naturalists upload images of beasties they encounter on their travels, along with the date and their location. Experts will then browse and filter the submissions in a bid to identify rare species or amphibians found out of their normal habitat.

"The initiative has been launched by the University of California, Berkeley’s AmphibiaWeb, which is a database of nearly 7,000 amphibians; Amphibian Ark; the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; the Amphibian Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission, which is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; the Center for Biological Diversity; and iNaturalist.org, a social network for naturalists.

"Amphibian lovers hope that crowdsourcing sightings of these species could give a greater indication of which species are threatened, but in a cost-effective way."

Google Reports Hackers From China Breaking Into, Monitoring Email

Google revealed today that hundreds of email accounts on the popular Gmail webmail service have been compromised due to efforts from hackers out of Jinan, China.  The targets?  Chinese activists, journalists, US officials and officials in neighboring Asian countries.

"Through the strength of our cloud-based security and abuse detection systems*, we recently uncovered a campaign to collect user passwords, likely through phishing. This campaign, which appears to originate from Jinan, China, affected what seem to be the personal Gmail accounts of hundreds of users including, among others, senior U.S. government officials, Chinese political activists, officials in several Asian countries (predominantly South Korea), military personnel and journalists.

"The goal of this effort seems to have been to monitor the contents of these users’ emails, with the perpetrators apparently using stolen passwords to change peoples’ forwarding and delegation settings. (Gmail enables you to forward your emails automatically, as well as grant others access to your account.)"

This latest set of attacks comes a year and a half after Google reported Chinese efforts to undermine Google's own corporate infrastructure and is yet another symptom of the Chinese government's campaign to control information in and out of the communist nation.  

Zynga Set To Conquer The World 

Zynga, the Facebook gaming giant responsible for FarmVille, CityVille, and others has released a new game today geared towards the more warlike amongst us.  

"Empires and Allies" is a story-driven strategy game positing the gamer as the leader of an island nation, and progression through the game requires you to battle the unsuspecting folks on your friendlist for world domination.

"According to the Zynga press release: 'Throughout the game, players will build army units, recruit friends, and encounter helpful allies and unique villains as fight their way across enemy-held territories on the quest to defeat the final villain.'

"'Think CityVille meets Risk,' said Amer Ajami, executive producer of Empires & Allies at Zynga."

Hmmmm.  Maybe I'll break my strict "no Facebook gaming" rule.  

Woman Cuts Penis From Attacker, Offending Organ Held For Evidence

One daring woman in Bangladesh slashed the penis from a man who attacked her in her shack, then brought the wrapped body part to the police station as evidence against her attacker.

"Mozammel Haq Mazi was taken to hospital where he is being treated - but is denying attempted rape.

"He claims he was having an affair with the mother-of-three and she attacked him because he refused to settle down with her.

"Monju Begum, from Mirzapur, which is around 100 miles from Dhaka, had apparently been sleeping when the man burst into her home."

The alleged rapist will be arrested as soon as he recovers from his injury, reports the police.  An attempted reattachment of the penis failed, as the organ spent several hours in the police station before doctors were able to get their hands on it.

I can guarantee no-one will ever attempt to rape Ms. Begum ever again.

[DailyMail]

State Department Reacts To Choi's Arrest

Titled "Concern About Freedom of Assembly In Russia," the US State Department has issued a statement in support of the movement to hold Pride in Moscow.

"We note with concern that in Moscow on Saturday, May 28, a peaceable demonstration of Russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians, joined by international supporters, was forcefully disrupted by counter-protesters, and that Russian security forces then detained people from both groups, including American citizens. Some protestors were seriously injured according to media reports.

"Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right all members of the OSCE committed to, including in the Moscow declaration and as recently as the Astana summit. As nationwide legislative elections approach, constraints on the ability of Russian citizens peacefully to gather and express their views will be closely watched in evaluating the integrity of the electoral process.  We call on Russian authorities to work with municipal officials to find better ways to safeguard these fundamental freedoms."

Lacking?  Anything from Hillary Clinton.  Also, Dan reminds us, through Pam Spaulding, about the second half of LGBT:

John Aravosis from Americablog had a few more things to say, one point being that the statement neatly avoids the accusations of collusion between security forces and Neo-nazi elements present at the protest.  Click on over for his analysis.

France also released a statement:


"VIOLENCE AT THE GAY PRIDE PROTEST IN MOSCOW (May 28)

"With regards to the violence that took place May 28 at Gay Pride in Moscow, France reaffirms its commitment to freedom of expression for all and the right to peacefully demonstrate in safety.

"We remind all that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in its decision of 21 October 2010 that the ban on this year's Moscow Gay Pride is contrary to Article 11 of the European Convention on human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"France reiterates its condemnation of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity, regardless of the country where they are committed."

Dan Choi Arrested In Moscow

Dan Choi participated in a banned Pride rally on Saturday in Moscow.  Pam from Pam's House Blend captured Choi's Tweet feed related to the event:

15 Russian activists and 3 internationals were arrested in the demonstration after an unknown number of anti-gay "fascist" attackers started a fray.  Andy Thayer says:

Video of the chaotic scene.

"By our count, 18 pro-lgbt demonstrators were arrested today (15 Russians and 3 internationals), as were an unknown number of fascists who tried to attack us.  A fascist tried to slug me in the face, but missed.  One of our Russian friends was injured and taken to the hospital, but not in serious condition.  We were very worried that the police would simply allow the fascists to beat us to a pulp.  That this did not happen is a victory, of sorts.

"The pro-gay European Court of Human Rights decision is now revealed as a piece of toilet paper, soiled.  The European Court and the Russian gov't look very bad, and President Obama and Sec't of State Clinton look like hypocrites for failing to say anything about the events today.  Before the demo, our Russian friends were told by the U.S. embassy that they would simply "monitor the situation."  Lot of help that was.

"Russian LGBTs unfortunately still have a lot of work ahead of them.  The Russian gov't continues to thumb its nose at world opinion, as does the U.S. gov't in this and many other matters."


The three internationals were Choi, Louis-George Tin and Peter Tatchell, all of whom were released immediately without a fine.  The Russian activists had to stay overnight.  The Advocate reports that the treatment of the foreign activists was much better, as they were even allowed to keep their cell phones in their holding cells.  

UK Gay News liveblogged the event, found at the link below.

[UK Gay News]

Allan Hyde Equals Yum

If you are a fan of True Blood, then you've seen Allan Hyde perform as the baby-faced Godric, an ancient vampire with a suicidal streak.  He was also, I think, a very... nice... addition to a cast that was already known for being extremely sexy.

 

Well, the Danish actor also stars in a web series, the fifth episode of which is found below.  I'll be honest-- I haven't watched any of it.  But come on.  Look at him.  Meow.

Ahmadinejad, Bringin' The Crazy

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad amped up the crazy during a speech he made at the inauguration of a dam in a central province recently by claiming that Europe was using secret technologies to steal rain from Iran.  

The president has come under fire at home lately for disobeying the orders of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini.  The power struggle between he and his partner-in-despotism has been fierce and balls-to-the-walls nuts, with his detractors claiming that he is either using sorcery to achieve his political aims or, depending on who you ask, the victim of sorcery himself.  

Wizard?  Or just an asshole?  You decide.

All-in-all, I'm thoroughly entertained.  

Anyway, Mahmoud baffled both detractors and supporters when he made the speech accusing the West of undermining Iran by stealing rain.  The Middle Eastern country has suffered several droughts in recent years, with no end in sight.  Who better to blame it on than his bitterest critics?  

"'Western countries have designed plans to cause drought in certain areas of the world, including Iran,' Mr Ahmadinejad said in the city of Arak in Markazi province.

"'According to reports on climate, whose accuracy has been verified, European countries are using special equipment to force clouds to dump' their water on their continent, he said.

By doing so, 'they prevent rain clouds from reaching regional countries, including Iran,' Mr Ahmadinejad charged."

Riiiiiiiiiiight.  Your country's drought problems have nothing to do with the fact that it's in the Middle fucking East.  

My conclusion?  He's joking!  He's OneAngryQueer's Comedian of the Week.  

Cuz he has to be kidding...

Right?

[The Telegraph]