Less Filling... Tastes Great

Well, I now have a whole new respect for Belgian politicians...

A lunch meeting between a leading parliamentarian in Belgium and counterparts from Iran has been canceled because the beer-loving Belgian could not stomach a ban on alcohol.

“Even for the tolerant Herman De Croo, that was a bridge too far,” De Croo, a Dutch-speaking Liberal, told De Standaard daily on Thursday.

De Croo, president of parliament’s lower house, had been due to entertain the speaker and members of the Iranian parliament on Friday during their visit to Belgium — famous for its diversity of beer brands.

But he said lunch had been canceled because the Iranians, who as Muslims do not drink alcohol, wanted their hosts to do the same.

(hat tip: Best of the Web) I'm thinking Bush should send Iran's new President a case of beer as congratulations (more on him later). But I'm just impressed to see anyone from mainland Europe stand up to anyone from Iran.