Proof, if it were needed, that police forces in Western Europe and America are not heavy-handed when it comes to policing the ‘war on terror’. On the 13th of August a 34 year old Italian businessman sent an email, from the computer of his cousin, to the F.B.I. The email was a threat against George W. Bush, claiming to be from the head of Al-Qaeda in Italy. The witty businessman mentioned to his cousin “I’m about to play a great trick on you”. Indeed.

Alarm bells rang in the F.B.I., Homeland Security, the Italian Police, and magistrates in Milan. The businessman, G.L., claimed that he never meant to send the mail. Magistrates are looking into the matter, to see whether legal sanction against the prankster and his unfortunate cousin is appropriate, while it’s probable that the American authorities will add the two to their list of undesirables. But the two remain at liberty, after all a joke is a joke.

Ah well, no harm done at the end of the day.

And if an Arab were to share G.L.’s wicked sense of humour? Ah well…