Arianna sits down for dinner with Ahmad Chalabi. No really.

[kpete]

As I posted about on Friday, after seeing Chalabi speak at the Council on Foreign Relations (and being denied the chance to ask a question), I received a call asking if I would like to meet him for breakfast at 8 the next morning. I declined, explaining that I was flying out at 7 a.m. Shortly after, I got another call, suggesting I join him and his group for a late dinner.


"Isn't that proof," I kept asking, "that the presence of the military is fueling the insurgency, and that your job would be easier if the Americans left?"

"No," he kept insisting, "we need the Americans to protect us from our neighbors. From Syria, from Saudi Arabia, from Iran."

That's obviously one of the main objectives of his current trip. He's convinced that the administration, for political reasons, is looking for a way out of Iraq. And he wants to make sure that doesn't happen.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/chillin-with-chalabi-my_b_10651.html

[KharmaTrain]

1. The Crooks Love To Live Next To The Cop Station

Chalabi's got it coming and going. He controls all the oil revenues and the skim...and will be the real power behind whatever puppet is named "Prime Minister" based on the golden (or oily) rule.

The U.S. is Chalabi's private army. He got his buddies Rummy and Chenney to do his dirty work. First he milked the neo-cons for millions in the run-up to this invasion and now is raking in billions on the other side. He's slick, he knows when to play his cards and who to play and that's why he's here.

Instability plays to Chalabi's strength as he can continue to operate behind the scenes and below the radar and is fully protected by our military. He looks at them as being his private army...and for damned good reason.

Yep, this obscene "charm" offensive is extremely offensive as our corporate media has a great chance to expose this fraud once and for all, and he's getting the red carpet. Shamefull.

[leveymg]

2. Must say, she does get invited in an awful lot for a self-styled outsider

Arianna must be very friendly to insiders, as she keeps on getting invited back.

Is she a useful tool, or just a lot of fun to be around?