Did bush secretly aid the Iraqi candidates during the elections?

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON, July 16 - In the months before the Iraqi elections in January, President Bush approved a plan to provide covert support to certain Iraqi candidates and political parties, but rescinded the proposal because of Congressional opposition, current and former government officials said Saturday.

In a statement issued in response to questions about a report in the next issue of The New Yorker, Frederick Jones, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said that "in the final analysis, the president determined and the United States government adopted a policy that we would not try - and did not try - to influence the outcome of the Iraqi election by covertly helping individual candidates for office."

The statement appeared to leave open the question of whether any covert help was provided to parties favored by Washington.

The article, by Seymour M. Hersh, reports that the administration proceeded with the covert plan over the Congressional objections. Several senior Bush administration officials disputed that, although they recalled renewed discussions within the administration last fall about how the United States might counter what was seen as extensive Iranian support to pro-Iranian Shiite parties.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/politics/17elect.html?ex=1279252800&en=4a49168c24325e4a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[lala_rawraw]

1. Um... anyone remember Scott Ritter? What election?

[FreedomAngel82]

6. I remember

after the "election" Allawi had 4% but then Bush cried "fraud!" and they worked some more and then told results and shortly after that Allawi had 14% :shrug: But if you haven't check out Greg Palast's segment on Iraq and oil. It's very very interesting....

[Wetzelbill]

7. oh you just want to brag about your interview skills

:) (I'm a jerk, I know)

[lala_rawraw]

8. huh? hey, he said it

to many people, I was not speaking of any particular piece, just the man. yes, jerk is correct, even with a cute smile:)

[Wetzelbill]

9. but I like to tease people

It's my way of saying I like them.

But, yeah, you actually did a great job if I don't say so myself. (how's that for getting back on her good side) :)

[rzemanfl]

2. Well, of course, these folks specialize in election manipulation

both there and here. Not surprised in the slightest.

[electron_blue]

3. I assumed this was going on anyway

And not to pick on Bush. Had a Dem been in power during these elections, I would have assumed he/she had done the same. I really doubt a U.S. President would lead a war to overthrow a dictator and then let the new elections proceed totally freely, determined solely by the will of the people. That is awfully naive, imo. Just consider our 2000 and 2004 elections here in the U.S. for an example of elections *not* determined freely by the will of the people.

[tjdee]

4. Duh, LOL. I thought it was pretty well known that he did.

There's no way someone would get elected that the US was against.

[Wetzelbill]

5. yup

[bullimiami]

10. bullshit.

they did it.
there was no free and fair election, it was a puppet show.