We must protest this outrage

Making waves: Sacha Baron
ohen's creation Kazakh tv presenter Borat

Bush to hold talks on Ali G creator after diplomatic row
Last updated at 16:11pm on 12th September 2006

US President George Bush is to host White House talks on British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.

Cohen, 35, creator of Ali G, has infuriated the Kazakhstan government with his portrayal of Borat, a bumbling Kazakh TV presenter.

And now a movie of Borat's adventures in the US has caused a diplomatic incident.

The opening scene, which shows Borat lustily kissing his sister goodbye and setting off for America in a car pulled by a horse, had audiences in stitches when it was first shown last week.

But the film, which has just premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, has prompted a swift reaction from the Kazakhstan government, which is launching a PR blitz in the States.

Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev is to fly to the US to meet President Bush in the coming weeks and on the agenda will be his country's image.

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"The bottom line is we want people to know that he does not represent the true people of Kazakhstan."

The Kazakh government has previously threatened Baron-Cohen with legal action, for allowing Borat to, among other things, make fun of his homeland, demean women, slander gypsies and urge listeners to "Throw the Jew Down the Well."

Wanna know why this is happening?

O-I-L.

According to Ted Rall's new book, Silk Road to Ruin, Kazakhstan has one thing to recommend it, no not the freakishly deformed mutant babies shown on 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley.

O-I-L.

Kazakhstan may have a lot of it. More than Saudi Arabia. Which is why a British comedian is of concern to the US president.