back in full effect

Articulate aggression is back, and I am more articulate and aggressive than ever. Just browsing through my google alerts a second ago and came across one of my favorite running gags, that is, the theft of the Saudi crown jewels by the Thai royal family. The suspected ring leader in the theft, which also involved a string of murders, was Lt. Gen. Somkid Boonthanom. He is now being promoted to be one of the assistant national police chiefs.
In the face of Saudi outrage Thai Prime Minister Aghisit Vejjajiva publicly defended Somkid's promotion on Monday, saying that it was legal and would in no way affect the case of the jewel theft, which Somkid is set to go on trial for Nov. 25. Thailand is a country known for political incompetence and rampant corruption so I'd have to disagree with the prime minister on his claim that this won't affect the trial. To me, this looks like a move to safeguard the general's royal handlers by giving him the power to escape justice.