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Following are excerpts from a Lebanese political satire, which aired on LBC TV on November 17, 2010:
Puppet interviewer: Thank you, Minister Ziad Baroud, and now we welcome MP Muhammad Ra'ad. Welcome.
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: Hello.
Puppet interviewer: Two days ago, an earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale hit Bint Jbeil.
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: This is a blatant violation of Resolution 1701 by the Zionist enemy.
Puppet interviewer: Can Israel possibly cause earthquakes?!
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: You bet it can, and we will retaliate with the same weapon.
Puppet interviewer: Will you strike Israel with an earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale?
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: Yes.
Puppet interviewer: How?
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: We will invite our friend and ally Wiam Wahhab to a banquet of stuffed vegetables and entrails near the Fatima Gate. As soon as our friend Wahhab finishes eating, we will play the song "Be built, oh country, your bastions protect you," and we will invite him to dance the debka.
Puppet interviewer: I get it. If he dances the debka at the Fatima Gate, he is bound to cause an earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale in Israel.
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: 4.3 on the Richter scale, to be precise.
Puppet interviewer: Why complicate matters? Why do you need Wiam Wahhab? Why can't you eat and dance the debka yourself?
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: Me? No! We will not respond with a mega-earthquake now. The day for that will come.
Puppet interviewer: OK. Today, the Israeli government decided to withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar Village, but the local people protested against this. How do you explain this?
Puppet of Muhammad Ra'ad: People want electricity and water, even if it comes from the Angel of death. They are afraid to end up like our people in Beirut.
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