From the “truth is sometimes stranger than satire department,” here is a mind-boggling excerpt from the lead story in the March 27th New York Times:

American officials are now saying that Shiite militias are the No. 1 problem in Iraq, more dangerous than the Sunni-led insurgents who for nearly the past three years have been branded the gravest security threat.

Well, Holy Onomatopoeia, Batman, but there’s a pretty good chance that our whole Iraqi game plan just went CLANK!, SPLATT!, and CLUNK- ETH! Talk about an OUCH!

I guess the obvious question for Rumsfeld would be: exactly which group of Nazis would we be handing Iraq¬†back to if we left? Nazi Team A, or Nazi Team B? Let’s face it, we’re fighting the wrong war at the wrong time and in the wrong place.¬†But as Rumsfeld himself might say: “Hey, Shiite happens.”

But maybe, just maybe, all is not lost. As with the relief pitcher who gets traded between games of a doubleheader, perhaps we can turn on a dime and switch sides, even if you can’t really identify the¬†players, even with a program.

Oh, excuse me, I forgot, the Shiites are the ones flailing themselves with chains and slashing their heads with swords. At least we know we fought for that God-given right of self-flagellation.

But at the end of the day, Bush obviously would feel more comfortable in the Shiite camp. After all, aren’t they the ones who believe in anointing their leaders through family ties, instead of merit?

BLOGWORTHIES: Check out Christy Hardin Smith of Firedoglake on the Senate hearings on the FISA statute.