By
John Breneman     As the clock
tick, tick, ticks toward the June 30 transfer of power to
a pseudo-sovereign Iraq, President Bush laid out a five-point
plan to boost his bum
approval rating. Apart from some creative pronunciation
of those pesky words "Abu
Ghraib," the embattled CEO of Democracy R Us
did not waver from reciting each word that had been written
for him. (Good news about Abu, Bush aims to demolish the notorious
torture house and Halliburton has stepped up to do the job
for just $1.2 billion.)

Iraq’s conversion to a Halliburton-based
economy will be aided by a transitional Iraqi government
comprised of guys who don’t mind having a terrorist bull’s
eye painted on their headgear. National elections will come
soon enough. But first it is vital to teach Iraqi politicians
how to divert millions into their campaign war-chests and
slime their opponents with negative ads. Presidential candidates
will also need seminars on how to exploit family connections
and use the Supreme Court to seize power.    MORE