While the Bush/Cheney gang has repeatedly refused to observe such Constitutional “technicalities” as “separation of powers” and “checks and balances,” they now seem to have recognized a co-equal branch of government: Iraq.

In a series of actions that have rebuffed Administration policy, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has¬†disavowed U.S. “timetables” for leaving Iraq. Growling at Bush in his best Edward G. Robinson imitation from The Ten Commandments,¬†al-Maliki asked: “Where’s your sovereignty now?”

Al-Maliki¬†contended that under religious Sharia law, the United States — the equivalent of Iraq’s bitch –¬†had no right to leave until Iraq¬†said so.¬† Iraqi officials¬†further asserted that this principle could also be justified under a¬†variation of the¬†Colin Powell Pottery Barn Rule: “You broke us, We own you!”

The main dispute over the timetable for withdrawal has centered on whether Iraq would adhere to Daylight Savings Time.  Iraqis strongly favored its adoption, in view of the continuing power outages, in order to allow for more light in which to loot and kill.

However, the Bush Administration was opposed on the grounds that it would cause a constant cycle of “springing forward,” and then “falling¬†back,” instead of just “standing up.”¬†

Al-Maliki further flexed his muscles by getting the U.S. to lift military blockades on Sadr City and another Shiite enclave, where an American soldier had been abducted.¬† According to MSNBC commentator Pat Buchanan, “this is an outrage, kind of like having the¬†cops withdraw from L.A. during the Rodney King riots.”

Al-Maliki¬†also dissed¬†Bush¬†by coming to the support of the embattled John Kerry, telling the ex-Decider: “He was right,¬†you know;¬†if you and your dumb-ass Neo-Con friends had studied any history at all, you would’ve stayed the fuck outta’ here.”¬†¬†

========================================

A footnote to the above story: Colin Powell himself has now issued a revised version of his infamous Pottery Barn Rule: “If you trash the whole store, ya’ better cut and run like¬†you’re being chased by wild dogs.”¬†

BLOGWORTHIES:

Lisa Casey has the Bush-Kerry edition hot off the presses.

Dan Kurtzman collects the 25 Stupidest Quotes about Iraq.

BuzzFlash Wings of Justice Award to Michael J. Fox.  Amen to that.

Norm Jenson with video of Midterm Commercials.

Crooks & Liars with U.S. Marine outing O’Reilly as a liar.

Glenn Greenwald on the baselessness of defeatism.