More on Comical Ail

Former Iraqi Information Minister al-Shaaf granted an interview with Al Arabiya TV just moments ago:

In the interview, Sahaf defends his press briefings during the conflict. Sahaf, who was not on the U.S. “most wanted” list, gained his unflattering nickname for proclaiming the defeat of U.S. forces even as they moved into Baghdad and for his habit of handling loaded weapons during news conferences.

“The information I received from the governorates was more precise and comprehensive than the information I got from the Baghdad area,” an Abu Dhabi spokesman quoted Sahaf as saying. “I was sincere in everything I said, even just before the fall of Baghdad international airport.”

The figure of Sahaf has spawned a mini industry in the West, spawning T-shirts, mugs, dolls and videos, and a raft of Web sites poking fun at his rhetorical style.

They say that al-Shaaf looked a little worse for wear. At least his stomach is not roasting in hell.