Geopolitics is a mess, isn't?

While American politicians debate who's a maverick willing to take on the establishment, Iraq's Mithal al-Alusi meets the criteria and pays the price. In the latest in a series of battles with what he calls the "fascist" religious parties running the government, Alusi was banned from parliament for making his third trip to Israel—or, the "Zionist entity" as it's known in official Iraqi correspondence. He is not allowed to leave Iraq, could face prosecution and says he is hearing of threats on his life.

Geez... Ya know?