Bring Out Your Dead!

Remember the scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead. [a man puts a body on the cart]
Large Man with Dead Body : Here's one.
The Dead Collector : That'll be ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't : I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector : What?
Large Man with Dead Body : Nothing. There's your ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't : I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector : 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body : Yes he is.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't : I'm not.
The Dead Collector : He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body : Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't : I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body : No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.

This is the same scene that's playing out between the Palestinian authorities and Arafat's spouse in Paris, believe it or not (Life imitates Art). As Suha says one thing, the Palestinian officials say another; and right in the middle of things are the French doctors and politicians.

Why the comedy laced with melodrama? They are fighting over his dead body for the millions of dollars Arafat has looted from the Palestinian people.

So ends Arafat--undead , undignified, and (hopefully) unmourned.