The State Department (henceforth to be known as “Floggy Bottom”) recommended an S&M freak with no scientific degree for the Iraq inspection team: Weapons Inspectors’ Experience Questioned.

The United Nations launched perhaps its most important weapons inspections ever yesterday with a team that includes a 53-year-old Virginia man with no specialized scientific degree and a leadership role in sadomasochistic sex clubs.

The United Nations acknowledged yesterday that it did not conduct a background check on Harvey John “Jack” McGeorge of Woodbridge, who was in New York waiting to be sent to Iraq as a munitions analyst. McGeorge was picked for the diplomatically sensitive mission over some of the most experienced disarmament sleuths in the world. A U.N. spokesman said McGeorge was part of a group recommended by the State Department, which in turn said it was merely forwarding names for consideration.

Now we know why the inspectors were so eager to have a day off.