Bizarroworld Dispatch: Iraq, democratic utopia

There are many possible ways to suggest that Vladimir Putin ease up on his authoritarian habits in running Russia, but perhaps none as idiotic as the option Bush chose during the G8 summit this week.

"I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world, like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion, and I told him that a lot of people in our country would hope that Russia would do the same," Bush said.

To that, Putin replied, "We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy that they have in Iraq, quite honestly."

Let's see here... the US military has copped to planting propaganda in the Iraqi news media, and gangs of young men are roaming the streets of Baghdad kidnapping and killing people by the score based on religion. When Bush himself visited the country, it had to be done unannounced and undercover-- with even the Iraqi government kept in the dark-- out of concerns for the president's safety. I could go on (and on and on), but I don't think the irony is lost on anyone.

Think Progress has the video.