Chalabi: Will one-time Washington favorite have last laugh at polls?

[Thom Little]

Ahmed Chalabi, a one-time Washington favorite and expert at facing down politically deadly scandals, is positioning himself as the candidate who can quell the insurgency and distribute oil wealth to Iraqis after the December 15 election.

The leading Iraqi cheerleader for the U.S.-led invasion and current deputy prime minister has repeatedly survived allegations of corruption, espionage and shady political dealings.

He bounced back from harsh U.S. criticism over allegedly spying for Iran and providing false intelligence to Washington about Saddam Hussein's links to the Al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

During a visit to Washington last month that refurbished his image, Chalabi described allegations that he fabricated intelligence as "an urban myth," and has made no secret that he would like to be prime minister. In turn, U.S. officials have called the 61-year-old Shiite Muslim a "viable" candidate in Thursday's legislative poll.


http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=20737

[Jacobin]

1. Meet the new Saddam

[chookie]

7. Same as the old Saddam

[chookie]

8. Seriously...

...I predict Chalabi will "miraculously" be elected. It won't bring peace to Iraq, because everyone knows he is a stooge. But it will at least put an Iraqi face on the new wave of repression in Iraq.

[VegasWolf]

2. This clown is a scumbag. His campaign is backed by millions from

Bushco. They are positioning him against the theocrats that will undoubtedly win. Odd that Bush doesn't want a theocracy in Iraq while he tries to push the US away from secularism.

:sarcasm:

[NanceGreggs]

3. HHHhhmmmm ...

Chalabi is the darling of DC, and is paid millions for his 'solid information' by the Administration, because the info he's spouting is coincidentally exactly what they want to hear.

Chalabi returns to Iraq, where he finds he has no credibility with Iraqis -- because he's considered to be 'the darling' of the Bush Administration.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Chalabi's house is searched, and he is totally discredited by the US Administration; accused of all kinds of nefarious dealings -- thereby 'gaining' the trust of the Iraqis because he is no longer seen as a US puppet, but as one of them.

And then, OMG, Chalabi returns to the States, where all apparently is forgiven by the Administration, and he's met with open arms (not to mention flowers and sweets).

And now the US Admin sees him as a 'viable candidate' in Iraqi elections.

What's wrong with this entire picture?

[AlCzervik]

4. he needs to step outside of the greenzone without his personal militia

[acmavm]

5. This is turning out exactly like Wolfie and crew wanted it to. I mean, all

they had to do was smear the guy a little, call him a few names, mess up his office, and viola, he ends up running the entire show.

[chookie]

9. They're making it happen

It is not an accident or the will of the people. The election is rigged in favor of the Neocon's darling Chalabi.
:puke:

He'll be crazier than Saddam ever dreamed....

[0007]

6. And stuffing his pockets all the while. Perhaps he can be kidnapped some

dark night and taken to Jordan?

And his return to Iraq was after he had been gone for over 48 years. He exiled the country in 1954.

[daleo]

10. Honest elections in a country under foreign military occupation

Seem doubtful.