In honor of Star Wars Episode 3 coming out next week, here's a flashback y'all should be familiar with:

INTERIOR: WHITE HOUSE -- CONFERENCE ROOM.


Eight senior government officials sit around a black conference table. Imperial stormtroopers stand guard around the room. TOM RIDGE, a young Cabinet member, is speaking.


RIDGE: Until our missile shield is fully operational we are vulnerable. The Iraqis are too well equipped. They're more dangerous than you realize.

RUMSFELD: Dangerous to your duct-tape brigade, Ridge, not to our soldiers!

RIDGE: The French will continue to gain support in the Security Council as long as....


Suddenly all heads turn as RIDGE's speech is cut short and DICK CHENEY enters. He is followed by his powerful ally, The Secretary of State, COLIN POWELL. All of the officials stand and bow before the Veep as he takes his place at the head of the table. The Secretary stands behind him.


CHENEY: The Security Council will no longer be of any concern to us. I've just received word that the President has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the United Nations have been swept away.

RIDGE: That's impossible! How will the President maintain control without the bureaucracy?

CHENEY: The regional army bases now have direct control over territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of our armed forces.

RIDGE: And what of the French passing information to Iraq? If the Iraqis have obtained a technical readout of our battle plans, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it.

POWELL: The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.

RUMSFELD: Any attack made by Iraq against our armed forces would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. Our military is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!

POWELL: Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a nation is insignificant next to the power of diplomacy.

RUMSFELD: Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Powell. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up support from Old Europe, or given you clairvoyance enough to find Iraq's hidden weap—

Suddenly RUMSFELD chokes and starts to turn blue under POWELL's spell.

POWELL: I find your lack of tact... disturbing.

CHENEY: Enough of this! Powell, release him!

POWELL: As you wish.

CHENEY: This bickering is pointless. Secretary Powell will provide us with the location of the French holdouts by the time our missile shield is operational. We will then crush the Rebellion with one swift stroke.