Allan Lengel

WASHINGTON — It’s really not enough that the goofy Qatari diplomat who caused a scare aboard a United Flight from D.C. to Denver Wednesday will voluntarily leave the country.

The country of Qatar, at minimum, should pay for the two F-16 fighter jets that were scrambled in response to the man’s stupidity and the cost of investigators who had to deal this nonsense.

Apparently, the diplomat Mohammed al-Madadi, who has immunity from prosecution,  was going to visit a jailed al Qaeda agent in prison in Denver, and while on board the United flight, decided to light up a cigarette in the bathroom. When confronted, he apparently made a joke about trying to light his shoe on fire.

Now, if the guy had been in 5th grade, perhaps the response might have been understandable. One thing is for sure: Qatar needs to raise the bar a little and send diplomats to the U.S. who exhibit the maturity of someone beyond elementary school.

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