Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) made a reference to one of the greatest movies of all time Wednesday during a Senate hearing on the budget for the State Department.
Kirk was asking Secretary of State John Kerry about the release of terror suspects from countries that receive aid from the United States. Kirk found this to be a good time to mock Kerry by roughly quoting Team America: World Police, the 2004 satirical puppet comedy from the creators of South Park.
Kirk's questioning was focused much on Sudan.
"So as they said in Team America: World Police, ‘You're going to send them a very angry letter’?" Kirk said.
"Uh, no, we do more than that, Senator," Kerry said, appearing confused. "There, you know, the president of the country, as you know, is indicted of war crimes. He can't travel anywhere. We're ready to arrest him if he did. I mean there's a lot going on."
In the movie, U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il are arguing over access to weapons sites throughout North Korea. The script mocks the U.N.'s impotent response to world crises by suggesting that Blix would only offer a letter to oppose North Korean aggression.
"I'm sorry, but the U.N. must be firm with you. Let me see your whole palace or else," Blix said.
"Or else what?" Kim asked.
"Or else we will be very, very angry with you. And we will write you a letter telling you how angry we are," Blix said.
Blix is murdered later in the scene by being fed to sharks.