CARE TO KARAOKE, SIR?

BAGHDAD, Iraq — When Brig. Gen. Martin Dempsey took the stage last night, it was like he was channeling Frank Sinatra.

“This is advertised as a competition, but there will be no competition,” Dempsey said to the 1,000-plus crowd at the Bob Hope Dining Facility.

He wasn’t kidding. Dempsey, new commanding general of the Wiesbaden, Germany-based 1st Armored Division, launched into a rendition of “New York, New York,” that would have done the Chairman of the Board proud.

How good was he?

As one soldier noted, “If this command gig doesn’t work out, I think he’s got a pretty good fallback.”