The Americans are looking for a strong man to take over in Iraq. It seems democracy has dropped down the list of priorities. Isn't the answer obvious? Reinstate Saddam. All he needs to do is drop that idea of trading oil in euros instead of dollars, and accept Israel's right to invade and occupy any Middle Eastern country at any time, and his differences with the Yanks disappear.
The practitioners of realpolitik are a forgiving bunch; how many former terrorists have ended up with the Nobel Peace Prize? Menachem Begin, Nelson Mandela, Seán MacBride; how long before bin Ladin's on his way to Oslo? Yesterday's evil dictator is today's valued ally; look at Pervez Musharraf; and the Gadaffi makeover continues. And vice versa, as the man himself can testify - one day blithely gassing Kurds and massacring Shi'ites with chemicals and weapons provided by the US and UK, the next standing accused of heinous crimes against those same Kurds and Shi'ites, by the US and the UK!
But all's not lost, the rehabilitation of the Red Knight may become necessary. Insh'allah, ya Saddam, insh'allah.

Wordwatch 3
Since the last tally: two icons, one iconic, two adjectival keys, one surreal. That last may have been acceptable use as it referred to Bing Crosby and David Bowie duetting on "The little Drummer Boy". Creepy, sinister, louche, disturbing; I'm sure there were more apt words.