Satirical Iraqi TV show provides insight into Baghdad's mood

[ECH1969]

The year is 2017, according to the opening credits of the fake news broadcast, and the last man alive in Iraq, whose name is Saaed, is sitting at a desk, working as a television news anchor. He sports an Afro, star-shaped sunglasses and a button-down shirt.

The Americans are still here, the government is still bumbling, and the anchor wants his viewers to drink their tea slowly so they don't burn themselves. "You cannot go to the hospital during the curfew," he warns. For Iraqis, the remark is outrageously funny, if only because it's so close to being true.

After a summer of the worst violence since U.S. troops toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, tens of thousands of Iraqis are finding solace and amusement in a new television show whose dark satirical humor makes it an Iraqi version of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."

With seemingly no sacred cows, it provides insight into how Iraqis see their country's problems, lampooning the Americans, the Iraqi government, the militias and the head of Iraq's state-owned media company.

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/world/15679004.htm

[nam78_two]

1. interesting-kick/nt

[bigbrother05]

2. That is funny

John Stewart needs to see this.

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. This is great...

Definitely had to read the whole article for this one. Very revealing.

[ECH1969]

5. Iraq for all its problems has a relatively free press

Iraqi politicians passed some laws trying to restrict it, but freedom of press and speech is written into the Constitution.

[cui bono]

4. Sounds great! When is the subtitled version going to be on youtube?

[corporatemedia]

6. Is this the GOOD NEWS from Iraq that we were promised? eom