Diplomatic Immunity

Yesterday, I posted on Facebook about the idiot low level diplomat who was detained and questioned after joking about igniting his shoes on a flight from DC to Denver. You can read the latest on his story here.

As more and more details emerge, I get angrier. At first I thought he was just an idiot. Then I wondered if maybe there was a language problem, he got flustered and said/did the wrong thing (even though diplomats typically are well trained in the language/customs of the country they are visiting). Afterall, it's my understanding that some foreign airlines allow smoking on their flights, so maybe the guy thought it was ok to light his pipe in the bathroom. When questioned he motioned to his shoes like he was lighting a match. So maybe he was just trying to explain, right?

Then, I read the above article and realized that this guy was on his way to speak to a Qatari national who is sitting in prison here for plotting terrorist schemes. hmm.... he obviously knows the punishment for such behavior.

Diplomatic immunity or no, this type of thing should not be allowed. Yes, it's great and wonderful that he's being sent home and shouldn't be returning to the USA, but some things just shouldn't be joked about.

On my FB page yesterday I was asked if I'd feel the same way if it was an American diplomat who made the mistake overseas. And, quite frankly, yes - I would. When you are on someone else's turf you should respect their rules/regulations/laws. If you don't you should suffer the consequences to the fullest extent of the law. Sure, everyone makes mistakes but can you honestly tell me that in this day and age someone would think it's ok to get on a plane and joke about lighting anything on fire.

I remember in 1994, there was an American kid in Singapore who screwed up. He spray painted and threw eggs at 18 cars. The punishment by law in that area was to get lashed with a rattan cane (here's his story). Sure there was outrage, but hey, the kid lived in Singapore for several years before committing his crime. He knew they weren't going to say "no biggie" and let him get away with it, yet he broke the law. And then he suffered the consequences.

I think the same should have been dealt to this guy on the plane. At the very least someone (other than my tax dollars) should have to pay the U.S. Government for the expense of scrambling a few F-16's to escort his flight into DIA.

Let's face it, some things can be overlooked; but when someone makes a joke as serious as that they are putting not only themselves, but the other 150 or so people on the plane at risk. If the marshalls had thought he was serious, what do you think those fighter pilots would have done? They aren't there for show, they are there to shoot before thousands of people on the ground are harmed, you know  the sacrafice a few to save many concept is what they are trained to do.

I saw one of the passengers on the Today Show yesterday and he thought the situation was handled well on the plane that night. Nobody was alarmed, in fact, only a few people who happened to be seated near the marshalls knew what was going on. I wonder if he still feels the same. Sure, it sounds like everyone did their job that night, but what in the days since? What do you think would have happened to this schmuck if he were you or me? Would we get to go home and not pay a penalty? Why should he? I think these circumstances definitely have warranted a look at our "diplomatic immunity" policies.