HBO's 'The Brink' Recap: Episode 3: Tim Robbins, Aasif Mandvi, Jack Black's 'Baghdad My Ass!'

From the man who brought you the Austin Powers movies, director Jay Roach continues the political satire The Brink on HBO. In Episode 3, Baghdad My Ass, can Rafiq Massoud (Aasif Mandvi) and Alex Talbot (Jack Black) get to Walter Larson (Tim Robbins) in time before World War III starts?

The man in charge happens to be General Ahmed Ali (David Diaan), the half-brother of General Umair Zaman (Iqbal Theba). General Ahmed has previous history with Water Larson, which is why he wants Alex to deliver him a message. If Alex doesn't contact Walter, General Ahmed will kill Raffia's family. 

After making a mess of his mission. Zeke (Pablo Schreiber) is incarcerated with his co-pilot. Zeke's mistress (Jamie Alexander) reveals she is pregnant but she wants to raise their child on her own. Zee isn't father material, especially since he's  a drug dealer.

With the military in his parents home, Rafiq is being held at gunpoint until Alex gives himself up. After stating that he has diplomatic immunity, the military tears up Alex's passport and takes him away.  Before he's out the door, Alex begs Rafiq to contact the embassy and save him.

While Alex persuades Rafiq to help him, Walter finds Mrs. Larson (Carla Gugino), having sex with her trainer. Mrs. Larson has plans to step up the political ladder, but since Walter isn't helping, she has to take a job from his opponent. Though they argue, Mrs. Larson refuses to budge from her decision.  

After screwing his translator on his plane, Walter gets a call from President Julian Navarro (Esai Morales). Walter tries to bluff his way through the conversation but manages to pass out. His health is deteriorating and he needs to get to the hospital because of his kidney stones. 

After arriving at the assembly, Rafiq and Alex find Walter's secret number written on a Maxim magazine. Though they meet with Robert Kittredge (John Larroquette), he has no intentions of saving the world. Robert is a religious nut, who thinks it's God's plan that the apocalypse is coming.

Zeke and his co-pilot face the court of their superiors, only to realize their fiasco has been covered up. After calling his ex-wife and making things up with her, Zeke promises to be a better father to his unborn child to his mistress. Unfortunately, because he told her to, she dumped all the drugs in his locker. 

Knowing her boss is a religious maniac, Robert's secretary helps Rafiq and Alex get to a phone. Robert Kittredge interrupts Rafiq and Alex just as they have made the call to Larson. Walter chews out Robert before making a one last call to the President. Now that they know the list of ridiculous demands, they may be able to prevent war.

Though President Julian Navarro thinks he has the upper-hand. the brothers are actually in control. 

Readers, what did you think of Baghdad My Ass?