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Pastimes : Laughter is the Best Medicine - Tell us a joke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (25758)	12/8/2002 9:43:52 AM
From: SIer formerly known as Joe B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 62549

OSAMA: THE DOLL NEW "War On Terror" action dolls have provoked a storm of protest. sundaymirror.co.uk The 12in toys include figures representing Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, George W. Bush and even Tony Blair. As an extra satirical touch they are sold with an optional pink dress or kinky bondage outfit. But the dolls, called The Butcher of Baghdad, The Dirty Terrorist and The British Ally, among others, have sparked a wave of criticism. Threats against the makers are being taken so seriously that staff are going to work armed while CCTV cameras are trained on their HQ in the US state of Connecticut. Muslims complain that the £20 figures reinforce negative stereotypes. "You have disrespect- ed a whole religion by the nasty image in your 'villain' doll," said one, referring to the bin Laden figure. The website where they are sold has been deluged with accusations of profiteering at the expense of the September 11 victims. Emil Vicale, 42, president of herobuilders.com which makes the dolls, said 10,000 had been sold so far. He said: "I just don't understand the criticism - this is meant to be funny." Some of the heaviest criticism has come from the White House - aides have written a stern legal letter warning the firm not to infringe the President's "image rights".