And where is your sources to backup this Baghdad urban legend?

These aren't people... these are animals. This kind of behaviour, this intolerance, is despicable. There is no saving any of them. Left to their own devices, the evil ones will kill the good. What a sad, sad day. And unfortunately, a micro view of what is in store for the entire Middle East. Sad.

Oh my God, how horrible.

As hard as these stories are to hear, I hope you will keep passing them on, Richard. This war has become somewhat faceless, with only short reports about incidents and deaths on a daily basis. We need to hear more of the personal stories, so that maybe more people will see that it's something that needs to be taken personally.

Thank you for continuing to be there. Please be safe.

Do you think it would be any different in this country?
People get killed for even sillier stuff than that here in the US.
Heck, the joke really wasn't even that funny to begin with.

Until the Iraqi people are so sick of the people that perpatrate these crimes that they stand together and say in a loud voice, "NO MORE!" they will be victimized and no amount of our help will be of much good.
I spent several months in Iraq until I got hurt and while I feel very deeply for the average family, at some point they are going to have to stand up for thier own justice.

Wow... those guys have ZERO sense of humor, eh?

There are some very evil people trying to take control over there, as evidenced by this story (if it is true). It will take years for the local populace to come to grips with their own biases, hatreds, and desires for revenge. Only the rule of law and a strong hand to enforce it over the next several decades will bring order.

Until then, the barbarous actions of the wicked will continue. One day, the local populace will finally tire of such atrocities, and they will rise up in unison against the fomentors of violence and lawlessness. Only then, when the majority of the people are willing to fight for change, will they succeed.

I don't know if that day will ever arrive, or if a new regime, just as wicked as Sadam Hussein's will arise from the chaos that is today's Iraq.

Ultimately, people must choose for themselves, through their own actions.

The silence is deafening from the Muslim community, where is their outrage? Where is their shame in the people that are debasing their religion? We should be hearing more about why the Muslim community is not protesting these people who murder in the name of their religion.

don't really find the humor in this story, guess you'd have to be mahdi or sunni. If this is an example of u.s. progress right now, we've brought Baghdad into the 1920's of Chicago, got a long way to go and Michal Corleone is still 30 years away.

Dear Richard,

Keep up the great reporting. I watch the NBC news and MSNBC and see you almost every night. I really fear for your safety. Be careful out there and keep the true information flowing back to us.

Craig, it is different in this country. The barbarism here is not nearly as widespread and not nearly as likely to go unpunished. The mainstream mindset here is much different, and people generally don't need to be afraid to tell a joke.

Unfortunately the Sunni and Shiite people forget that they are Iraqi citizens and should stand up together to defeat the murderous rampage of extremist in thier country. Failure to recognize this fact puts the joke on them.

Were things better when Sadham was in power? Would things be better if the american military abandonded those poor Iraqi people before some sense of civility comes to that country?

We should never have gone to this country. We should let them destroy each other. If they want to live this way let them. They can stay over there and we can stay here in the USA. If they come to get us then we should nuke them into oblivion!

Religious Fundamentalism is to Humans as rabies is to dogs.

i find it interesting that the heading of this blog series is:

Blogging Baghdad: The untold story

why, exactly, is it untold? does this strike anyone else as ironic? i mean ... does this info NOT make the news cut when compared to, say, the latest travails of kevin federline and britney spears?

Maybe it’s time we take humor seriously. The expression of humor and the ability to laugh at oneself (and others) a serious indicator of freedom. The freer the people, the funnier and happier. When people kill and maim over cartoons and jokes, it is about as low as they can go. I am afflicted with a propensity to find the humor and irony in almost every situation, and I laugh daily. I never thought it could cost me my life, ANYWHERE in the world.

Instead of outlawing cartoons and jokes, perhaps demonstrating the ability to laugh at them should be a requirement for citizenship or permanent residency. Heck, countries should make visitors read a joke at the immigration line. If you don’t have a funny bone, go home!

Sounds true, unfortunately. "We" got rid of the main character but all the little henchmen still exist. It's like chasing cockroaches with a flyswatter. Our incredibly brave men and women over there are faced with this oxymoron of a "democratic muslim country". You have the nice ones and the glorified assassins. What a spot to be in.

I thought they needed more trunk space to pack more

explosives.

This "No Jokes Allowed" story trully shows how barbaric the people of the middle east, Sunni or Shitte are. Barbarics! They need to understand that everyone is entitled to their opinions even in the form of jokes. Life is to be enjoyed, not to be lived in fear like they have their people living in. Barbarians!! Can't they take a joke???

Not surprising after hearing a reporter say the first thing they taught Iraqi cop trainees is you don't start an interrogation by ripping off people's fingernails. That same reporter wondered if Iraqis are this way because of Saddam, or if Saddam was as he is because of the Iraqis. I feel bad for the average Iraqi who can't even get a haircut or go to a bakery without wondering if they'll get killed for it. Iraq is in a civil war and the only way to control it may be to put hard handed Saddam back in as president.

Man never does a mistake so enthusiatically as when he does it in the name of GOD.

At least under Saddam the people knew what they had to do to avoid being tortured or killed. Now it's a free for all.

Well put Josh!
Religion is the great divider of people, and the more fervor, the less reason. The world is entering into another Dark Ages ruled by fear and superstition. And while religious quacks of all varieties excuse their own abhorrent violence and hatred, they still turn around and expect science to heal them, feed them, and arm them. Choose one – religious foment or scientific reason. You cannot support both – they are diametrically opposed! Oh – and it is happening here in the US too. It is more subtle, but our Bill of Rights is eroding before our eyes. WAKE UP AMERICA! You’re also the target of religious kooks!
There's a Dallas in Oregon?

Saddam is:
A) A ruthless and sadistic tyrant.
B) An acceptable solutuion to Bush's Iraq mess.
C) Both.