Cartoons vs. security policy

This would be funny if it weren’t so ridiculous:

But even such tight control could not lways filter out the bizarre world inside the [Green Zone] barricades. At one point, three visiting members of Congress] were trying to discuss the state of Iraqi security forces with Iraq’s national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, but the large, flat-panel television set facing the official proved to be a distraction. Rubaie was watching children’s cartoons.

When Moran asked him to turn it off, Rubaie protested with a laugh and said, “But this is my favorite television show,” Moran recalled.

[Rep. Jon Porter (R-Nev.)] confirmed the incident, although he tried to paint the scene in the best light, noting that at least they had electricity.

“I don’t disagree it was an odd moment, but I did take a deep breath and say, ‘Wait a minute, at least they are using the latest technology, and they are monitoring the world,’ ” Porter said. “But, yes, it was pretty annoying.”

In other words, during an official meeting with U.S. lawmakers, the man responsible for coordinating Iraqi intelligence would rather watch a cartoon than discuss national security policy. And the Republican lawmaker in the room doesn’t see anything wrong with that.

- Steve Benen