Diplomatic Impunity

Did you hear about the diplomat from Qatar who joked about having explosives in his shoes? What a scamp! From ABC News:

FBI agents say no explosives were found in the shoes of a Qatar diplomat who was subdued by federal air marshals on a United flight to Denver Wednesday night after allegedly telling the marshals, "I'm lighting my shoes on fire."

Authorities say the diplomat was wrestled to the ground and two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched to accompany the 757 on the final five minutes of its flight to Denver. Flight 663 originated from Washington Reagan airport.

A US security official said, "it may have been a massive misunderstanding" and the diplomat's statement may have been a "sarcastic" comment when he was confronted by two air marshals who had been told by flight attendants that smoke was coming from the lavatory.

Don't you hate it when you're trying to have a smoke in the john, and some infidels blow it up into a big deal?

That "blow it up" part, in case you were wondering, was "sarcastic".

Update: See, if you're a "diplomat," you get to smoke while in flight and make bad jokes about being the next Richard "Shoebomber" Reid:

The Qatari diplomat who caused a midair security scare won't face charges after claiming he was trying to light his shoes on fire when it appears he was simply smoking in the bathroom.

Federal officials said Mohammed al Modadi was on official business when he boarded United Airlines Flight 663 from Washington to Denver, giving him diplomatic immunity. A law firm spokesman told The Associated Press that al Modadi has been released and was headed back to Washington...

Where he no doubt does a superb job representing Qatari interests.