Qatari diplomat al Madadi has been released from custody, cleared to fly back to D.C. and will not face charges.

Local news is reporting a state department official says Qatar will "withdraw" him, meaning he will go back to Qatar and that he has left for D.C.

The Qatar Ambassador, H.E. ALI BIN FAHAD AL-HAJRI, on the embassy's website, says he was flying on official business, at his instruction, and did nothing wrong. (the caps are their's)

"PRESS REPORTS TODAY REGARDING AN INCIDENT ABOARD A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT FROM WASHINGTON, DC TO DENVER, CO INDICATE THAT A QATARI DIPLOMAT WAS DETAINED FOR SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR. WE RESPECT THE NECESSITY OF SPECIAL SECURITY PRECAUTIONS INVOLVING AIR TRAVEL, BUT THIS DIPLOMAT WAS TRAVELING TO DENVER ON OFFICIAL EMBASSY BUSINESS ON MY INSTRUCTIONS, AND HE WAS CERTAINLY NOT ENGAGED IN ANY THREATENING ACTIVITY. THE FACTS WILL REVEAL THAT THIS WAS A MISTAKE, AND WE URGE ALL CONCERNED PARTIES TO AVOID RECKLESS JUDGMENTS OR SPECULATION.

Sounds like he's on his way back to D.C. (undoubtedly on a private jet) to clear out his residence and then will head back to Qatar or on to a post in another country.

Interesting bit of irony, via Majlis: Today the Qatar government stepped up its campaign against smoking in public in its own country.

Did a diplomat from the Middle East try to set his shoes on fire on a United flight from DC to Denver? The flight landed safely. No word yet on whether explosives were involved.

The suspect was identified by authorities as a diplomat in the Qatar embassy in Washington, Mohammed al Modadi. The FBI said the man had full diplomat immunity as the 3rd secretary and vice-consul.

Update8:56 pm: The air marshals found no explosives. He may have been trying to smoke a cigarette in the bathroom. He's 25 to 26 years old.

Update 9:07 pm: Sounds like this was not a terror incident after all. The plane is still on the runway and the local news media is scrambling to get information. Officials now say it likely was a misunderstanding. Guy probably got caught after smoking and made dumb bad joke about trying to set shoes on fire.

Update: Yes, he was just copping a smoke in the bathroom. No charges will be filed.

Who's going home on American Idol? Bigger question: Is anyone watching? Dancing With the Stars had bigger ratings last night. Since I'm still watching, I'll say I really don't care who goes tonight, since I doubt it will be my favorites Crystal or Casey -- or Lee or Katie Stevens. Most likely: Aaron Kelly or Andrew Garcia. Who should go? Tim Urban. (No spoilers please.)

A new Top Chef Masters is on Bravo. I've never seen it, is it like Next Iron Chef or something unique?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Don't legislators have anything better to do? In Louisiana, a House Committee has approved a bill to have drug offenders issued special drivers' licenses that say, in big orange letters at the bottom, "Drug Offender."

The House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee unanimously approved House Bill 139 by Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, after increasing the fee assessed on offenders from $10 to $25 to cover the cost of issuing a special license with "DRUG OFFENDER" in bright orange on the bottom. Similar licenses with "SEX OFFENDER" already are issued to people convicted of certain sex crimes.

Hardy said the main goal of his legislation is to "give the officer who would stop that person a heads-up who he's dealing with, to let him know that person has been involved in criminal activity and might be armed."

People are required to show drivers' licenses for everything from writing a check to getting on a plane to entering a federal courthouse. This is nothing but a shaming punishment. It's bad policy and offensive.

If it's really just for police, why not merely require drug offenders to keep a copy of their conviction paper in their glovebox, like they do their vehicle registration and proof of insurance, to hand over with their license during a traffic stop?

Voters in Nederland, Colorado (15 miles west of Boulder) yesterday approved an initiative removing criminal penalties for adult marijuana offenses. The ordinance reads:

Shall the electors of the town of Nederland adopt an amendment to the Nederland town code, effective June 1, 2010, removing all criminal penalties under town law to buy, sell, possess, consume, transport, cultivate, manufacture and dispense marijuana and its concentrate and related paraphernalia by persons twenty one years of age and older?”

482 votes were tallied. On the marijuana initiative, the vote was 259 to 218.

In November, Breckenridge legalized possession of up to one ounce. Question: Is Nederland the first municipality to legalize selling of marijuana for recreational (vs. medical)use?

It's a busy work day here, and a quick scan didn't reveal any news to share. What am I missing? BTD is still busy in hearings. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome. I'll be back later this afternoon.

It's Lennon/McCartney night on American Idol, which is just starting here. Katie Stevens was great, singing "Let it Be." Andrew Garcia was peppier than usual, but I felt like I was at a high school dance listening to a local band. Who did you like?

Who's going home on DWTS? I hope it's Kate Gosselin or Buzz Aldrin. There's also a new Good Wife and Justified (on FX.)

There were 8 bombings in Baghdad today. And a new filing by Roman Polanski, seeking a special counsel to investigate the allegations of official misconduct.

Thank goodness Rudy Giuliani has the stature of a footnote now, so remarks like these don't carry any weight. Maybe Ms. Judy still listens to him, but I doubt anyone else does.

What's on your mind tonight? This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland yesterday signed into law a DNA bill to protect the innocent. It is viewed as one of the most progressive in the nation.

Senate Bill 77... sets statewide standards for retaining biological evidence, requires the taking of DNA from anyone arrested on a felony charge and requires new procedures for suspect lineups.

The Ohio Innocence Project is impressed:

Leaders of the Ohio Innocence Project, based at the University of Cincinnati, said that in terms of impact, the bill is the most significant accomplishment in the organization's seven years of existence.

"Ohio is truly the national leader on innocence reforms and will be the role model other states look to as they contemplate similar measures in the coming years," said Mark Godsey, director of the Innocence Project.

Among the law's provisions: [More...]

The United States has added Muslim Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen born in the U.S. but now believed to be in Yemen, to its "capture or kill" list.

Previously believed to be an inspirational rather than operational leader of al-Qaida Arabian Peninsula, a review of his status by the National Security Council determined he was "a proven threat."

There were signs this was coming back in February.

And the Yemen Observer is reporting AQAP leadership has left Yemen and moved to Somalia. Did al-Awlaki go with them?

I've already written up what interests me this morning and am now leaving for work. BTD is off doing hearings this week.

If there's political or other news you want to discuss, here's the place -- an open thread, all topics welcome.

Mitsunobu Akano, age 65, of Japan was caught with 1.5 kilos of meth in China. He was executed yesterday. Under Chinese law, offenses involving more than 50 grams of heroin or meth carry the death penalty.

When caught, Akano was attempting to bring the drugs from China to Japan. China plans to execute three more Japanese citizens this week:

Beijing told Japan last week that it plans to execute three more Japanese drug smugglers this week - Teruo Takeda, 67, from Nagoya city; Hironori Ukai, 48, from Gifu prefecture; and Katsuo Mori, 67, of Fukushima prefecture.

Why are the Japanese going to China to get meth? One has to assume Chinese law enforcement forced the Japanese to give up their sources before killing them. Did China track down the meth producers and kill them too? Probably. (Unless they caught the producers first, who then ratted out their Japanese purchasers.) There's really no way to know. [More...]

The Rielle Hunter Rehab Tour continues. The next installment: Oprah Winfrey. When? May sweeps, of course. The misunderstood mistress, who no one cares about, who only talks about herself, has chosen Oprah Winfrey over Diane Sawyer and Barbra Walters to share the next tawdry installment. The up side: Oprah's on daytime, none of us with day jobs have to worry about watching.

How many faces does this story have? [More...]