Inside the Beltway

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By John McCaslin

BARE THE GUARDS

Britain's Prince Charles is getting purrs from the U.S.-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) after banning foie gras from royal menus and instructing chefs at his official residences to stop serving the delicacy.

"Good for you, Charlie!" PETA writes. "Now what about the bearskins on your mother's guards' hats?"

BUZZED IN IRAQ

Stimulants are the preferred items of choice purchased by American troops deployed in Iraq, according to information supplied by the U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service.

So-called "energy drinks" Monster and Red Bull were the top-selling items purchased in June at Iraqi base exchanges (BX) and post exchanges (PX), with troops knocking back 284,482 and 78,753 caffeine-laden cans, respectively.

Newport Kings and Marlboro Lights, meanwhile, were the sixth- and eighth-biggest sellers the most popular of the non-liquid items — with nearly 105,000 packs smoked last month.

OBAMACANS EXPLAINED

How does Dennis Moore, chairman of District of Columbia Independents for Citizen Control, explain "Obamacans," the catchy name likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama branded early in his campaign?

"Obamacans are simply disaffected and disillusioned Republicans who have been embarrassed and bamboozled," he begins in part. "These true GOP believers are more progressive and pragmatic, rather than conservative and ideological. They generally believe in governance and fiscal policies that emanate from the center, not the right or left. Their demographic crosses ethnic groups, socioeconomic levels, religious beliefs and core ages from 30 to 60-plus. Moreover, they're tired of being called Republicans, as if it were a curse word."