I was doing a bit of research for a piece today on film director Emir Kusturica. According to what I have found, Kusturica once challenged Vojislav Seselj, leader of Serbia's ultranationalist movement, to a duel. He suggested that it should be in the heart of Belgrade, at high noon, with any weapon Mr. Seselj chooses. Vojislav Seselj refused this offer saying that he "didn't want to be accused of a murder of an artist".

This was in 1993. Yes, 1993. I thought duels were from days gone by. This is most excellent, dudes and dudettes. I think we should keep the tradition alive. We could use duels to solve all our political problems or close elections. Can you imagine if someone challenged Mr. Bush to a duel (Al Gore)? Say they didn't believe in the way he governed and they walked up to him and slapped him with a glove and said "Are you ready to ruuuummmbbbble?"

Of course they would have to get access to Mr. Bush...and since he hasn't really appeared in a public forum or at a news conference in a long time (say isn't that what Saddam does?) they would probably have to duel Ari Fleischer. I am not sure that is fair. I don't think Ari could handle himself in a duel. Sure he seems a bit dictatorial on the podium, but he also looks a bit soft around the middle. I think Ari's got himself a bit of a tool shed in the belly area. It just wouldn't be fair. The challenger would have to give-up and banish the thought. Mr. Bush, through some yet another unfathomable stroke of genius, has himself well protected...

As we are learning, you need to choose your duels wisely. Kusturica hasn't always done that. In 1995. he went and knocked down Nebojsa Pajkic leader of New Serbian Right movement. Pajkic's lady tried to protect her husband by hitting Kusturica with a small bag, a present from Radovan Karadzic, leader of Bosnian Serbs.

I understand the power of the "small bag" but I don't think I ever will understand the shear cast of characters involved in any of that Bosinian-Herzogovinian-Serbian-Canadian-Alcoholics-Anonymous conflict.

*cross-posted at bushtit.com and brianlewandowski.com.