...Or Does It Explode?

Headline of the Week from Yemen Times

"Yemeni Regime Depends on Continued Corruption, Report Says"

That's a concise way to put it!

The Jet-Skiing Dictator

Gotta love the cover of the latest issue of TelQuel, which goes all US Weekly on King Mo6. In the "His Majesty's Hobbies" cover story, readers get to learn about the king's love of water-sports, cinema, bobybuilding, basketball, and Paris in the springtime. It's a veritable portrait of the monarch as a young man. The question, of course, is who pays for the jet-ski?

Bonus: Don't miss the photo inside the article of Mo6 hanging out by the pool with his furry-friend.

Bashar Al-Assad's Fax Number

Fax: + 963 11 332 3410

Now does anyone have his Gmail address?

Who is the Winner in this Soccer Match?

Al-Faysali is playing Al Raja during the Arab Champions League. But there seems to be only one real champion at the stadium.

April Fools Bonus Shots (Director's Cut)

Yesterday's line up of the latest Dictators' Club gathering had some choice photos. But today we offer a "director's cut" - gems that didn't make it through yesterday's rigorous editing process. And, as you might guess, they both involve the Q-man. He may be have the greatest experience, holding the prize title of the region's "longest-serving" despot, but he seems to be discovering some common objects for the first time:

What is this contraption?

Checking for the invisible-ink message.

April Fools?

Another gathering of despots - er, sorry Arab League summit - means lots of fun photo opportunities featuring the wacky men presiding over several hundred million people. We offer a few captions, but feel free to insert your own for these classics:

No short jokes, okay?

Bashy, beware the Vulcan neck grip nerve pinch!

Omar, where can I get a good hairpiece?

Ben Ali's Bold New Plan

Happy 52nd independence day to Tunisia! But is anyone buying what Ben Ali is peddling?

In an address commemorating Tunisia's 52nd anniversary of Independence and Youth Days on March 21, 2008, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali announced a set of important political measures aiming at strengthening the foundations of democracy in Tunisia...

The measures include the possibility of a draft amendment of the constitution to allow "exceptionally for the forthcoming elections of 2009, the possibility to run for presidential election for the first official of each political party…"

In his address, President Ben Ali further announced the "launch of a comprehensive dialogue, with youth" placed under the motto "Tunisia First". "We want this dialogue to be free from taboos or censorship on opinion and expression, respecting the national tenets and our society's conventional values", he said...

In relation to Human Rights, President Ben Ali said that Tunisia had "established Human Rights and the rule of law as fundamental foundations for the project of the Change", adding that we "will pursue its efforts to further promote and protect them in law and in practice".

Sure...

Saudi Royal Family Award Goes to... Saudi King

File under "You Can't Make It Up":

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) for his service to Islam at a ceremony held at the Prince Sultan Hall of the Al-Faisaliah Hotel last night...

In his acceptance speech the king said: “I would like to tell you frankly that when I heard that I have been selected for the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, I was reluctant to accept it as I know that there are many other Muslims who deserve the prize more than me... Finally, after praying to God, I decided to accept it on behalf of all Muslims who serve Islam silently away from the limelight without waiting for any reward or thanks.”

What a humble man!

Ex-Wife of King Abdullah Abducted?

Shocking news from an angry news service:

A Saudi scandal...in London. One of the divorcees of King `Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Princess Al-`Unud Al-Fayiz, fled Saudi Arabia to London. She was willing to speak about her bitter experience, and an Arab journalist taped hours of interviews with her, to publish as her memoirs. The princess feared for her life, and the Saudi government through its intelligence service was eager to bring her back to the Kingdom. I was provided the transcript of those long interviews although I don't own the copyright to use: they belong to the person who interviewed her. Now, the Princess has suddenly disappeared, I am told, and I would not be surprised if the British government helped to smuggle her back to the Kingdom to please the Saudi King.

Let's see if the Princess re-emerges.

A Ghostly Presence Haunts Damascus