The Emperor's New Briefs

Bill Clinton had to answer the boxers-or-briefs question, so why shouldn't one of the bloodiest despots of the century have to fess up, too? Thanks to a British tabloud, we now know that Saddam Hussein prefers briefs.

As a result, Saddam's attorneys are preparing some briefs of their own (I know, that calls for a collective groan, but I couldn't resist).

"The US military and legal experts said the photos -- possibly taken more than a year ago -- may breach Geneva Convention rules on the humane treatment of prisoners of war," reports BBC News. "The conventions say countries must protect prisoners of war in their custody from 'public curiosity.'"

Editors of The Sun, the paper publishing the purloined pictures, say the unnamed U.S. military sources handed over the photos in hopes of demoralizing the resistance in Iraq.

BBC continues:

" 'It's important that the people of Iraq see him like that to destroy the myth,' the paper's source was quoted as saying.

"However, several Arab commentators have suggested the photos could increase anti-American feeling in the region."

Now, we're certainly no fan of the Iraq War and the lies and deception that pulled the U.S. into combat. We're not proud of some of the atrocities that have been committed at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo prison. But at this point, do photos of Saddam in his tighty whities really threaten to make anti-American sentiment in the Arab world any worse? C'mon, already. We jumped the shark in that department long ago.

Maybe the pictures justify a Jihad on the Fruit of the Loom guys, but we suspect nothing more will come from it.