(WASHINGTON, DC) (June 15, 2006) President Bush went to Baghdad this week. He said his trip was secretly planned for weeks. No one could be told; no one could be trusted. The mission had to be kept confidential even from his closest associates.

     The original headline for this column was "Was this trip really necessary." But then something happened: I realized Bush must have a sense of humor. The trip to Baghdad was really Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In redux. In the 1960's TV classic, Arte Johnson became famous for playing the German soldier hiding behind a potted palm and saying "Verrrrry interesting."

     Where is Arte when we need him?

     Bush, of course, blathered after he returned to the White House. He was obsessed with "vacuums." Send him a vacuum cleaner.

     But it was an AP picture that told the story much better than any of Bush's posturing and pretensions. It struck me like a Laugh-In moment. Sock it to me.

     Most newspapers probably ignored the AP photo. But on page two of Wednesday's Washington Post there were White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and Counselor Dan Bartlett demolishing any claims Bush made for progress and security in Iraq.

     In classic Arte Johnson-style, Snow and Bartlett had on their faux-Germanic American helmets. They were protected by body armor. Snow has a look of abject fear on his face, or confusion or whatever. These men were not American conquerors; they were Don Quixotes pursuing the impossible dream behind the invisible palm tree in Iraq.

     For me, something clicked. I was stunned by the resemblance between Snow/Bartlett and Arte Johnson. The juxtaposition was so ludicrous because it was so parallel.

     The only thing missing was a Laugh-In laugh track with Arte saying "Verrrrry interesting." Baghdad can supply the palm tree.

     Bush may have thought he could fool the American public with another trip to Baghdad. Last time the trip was about a turkey. Dinner. This time the trip itself was the turkey. The sad fact is, the president is still fooling himself about Iraq.

     Five years ago he told us he had looked into Russia's Vladimir Putin's eyes and seen a revelation of sincerity and honesty. What a colossal misjudgment. There he was again Tuesday, saying he had gone to Baghdad to look into the eyes of Iraq's new prime minister.

     Was this trip really necessary? Judging by the catastrophic consequences of Bush's eyeballing Putin, one can only hope his judgments about Nouri al-Maliki are not as misjudged.

     Bush wasn't in the streets of Baghdad being welcomed by the people of a newly-liberated nation. He snuck into town in for a meeting that is best compared to the surreptitious Mafia mob boss rendezvous at Appalchin, New York in 1957.

     Winners don't run in and run out, hiding from the people they have just freed from the yoke of an oppressive dictator. Where is Vice President Cheney's commentary when we need it? He said we would be welcomed over three years ago. Well, Mr. Vice President, the welcome mat is still not out in Baghdad. When?

     Thankfully, Arte Johnson would understand. Bush's trip said it all, in the look of terror on the faces of Tony Snow and Dan Bartlett. Take a look at the picture for yourself. Verrrrry interesting.