IRAQ WITHOUT ILLUSIONS
Who says impeachment is pointless? It's already improved our foreign policy. . . Whatever else they think about the bombing of Iraq, most Republicans have been making the point that pinprick strikes to "send a message" to Saddam Hussein are no substitute for a policy designed to remove his regime from power. But Republicans and conservatives may be falling for an illusion of their own if they think that Saddam's removal can be achieved by arming the Iraqi opposition(s) and establishing no-fly zones and safe havens. As John Hillen, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a decorated Gulf War veteran, recently wrote, "Having observed the Shi'ite rebels in action against Saddam in April of 1991, I am not optimistic that any Iraqi opposition group could mount an effective campaign against Saddam without considerable U.S. military help" (from "Iraq: Forever and a Day," in Brainwash, a publication of America's Future Foundation). Ground troops can't be ruled out.

ROMMEL RIDES AGAIN
Is it just us, or is "Desert Fox" a really annoying name?

IMPEACHMENT BREAKTHROUGH
Yesterday, the unofficial vote-counters for the pro-impeachment forces concluded that they had enough votes to win, and maybe even with a five-vote margin that would make the lame-duck Congress argument look pretty lame itself. If the impeachment vote is held in the next few days, President Clinton and Andrew Johnson will be on the same page of the history books.

The remaining obstacle: Democrats might not give the unanimous consent needed to extend debate on impeachment beyond an hour. Are Republicans willing to wrap up impeachment in an hour and watch the Democrats blame them for it?

EMBRACEABLE BILL
"Americans embrace Bill Clinton because they embrace the Bill Clinton in themselves," said Jesse Jackson at Thursday's anti-impeachment rally on the west side of the Capitol. It was one of the more reflective moments for the crowd of perhaps 2,000 union activists in attendance, many of whom traveled all the way from Baltimore to chant "Stop the Coup" and sing "We Shall Overcome" on the day the House was originally scheduled to vote on impeachment.

Most of the rally was a show of left-wing vituperation, full of screaming speakers and crude placards. Cecil Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America tried to persuade Republicans to vote against impeachment by referring to "Newt Gingrich's big fat ass" and "that idiot Dick Armey." (At least he didn't call anybody a "scumbag"!) Among the signs parading around the gathering were these: "GOP KGB," "New KKK: Krazy Kristian Koalition," and "Monica Lewinsky is a big fat liar."

Race-baiting has become a mainstay of Democratic politics, and it was on full display Thursday. Master of ceremonies Walter Fauntroy, the District of Columbia's former delegate to Congress, said, "One of the reasons this Republican cabal wants to impeach President Clinton is because he wanted a cabinet that looks like America." Rep. Donald Payne (D., N.J.) explained that Clinton's trip to Africa was the casus belli. And Rep. Jose Serrano (D., N.Y.) opined that Republicans support impeachment because Clinton gets along well with blacks and Hispanics. "They don't want him, they want us," he hollered.

There were several moments of unintended humor. Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, mentioned the "1.3 million men of AFSCME" he represents. That made Eleanor Smeal of the Fund for a Feminist Majority, standing just behind and to McEntee's right, scowl. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D., N.Y.) tried to get the crowd chanting, "They're not going to take away our President," but this slogan lacked the catchy rhythm of "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Western Civ has got to go." Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D., D.C.) said, "The Judiciary Committee gave us the politics of the absurd. The full House is about to give us the impeachment of the absurd." Poor President Clinton, even his friends don't think much of him.

The Rev. W. Franklin Richardson began the festivities with a prayer asking for mercy from above because "There is confusion on this Hill." The divine intervention never arrived, however, and the confusion was not relieved at any point during the day.

WHERE'S THE ACLU WHEN YOU NEED THEM?
The U. S. military has to observe Ramadan, but Americans can't put a creche on public property?