Chalabi: "The US performance in Iraq is a failure"

[sabra]

http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=3&id=10211

<snip>

(Asharq Al-Awsat) But you were one of the most prominent people who pushed for the issue of the Iraqi Liberation Act, which is considered one of the most prominent reasons of the war?

(Al-Chalabi) Our political work in the opposition and as INC did not push in the direction of war and of getting US forces in Iraq; we were calling for the support of the opposition efforts to topple Saddam Hussein. This is the meaning of the Iraq Liberation Act, which did not talk about getting US forces to change the regime. We did not call for waging a war against Iraq; we were calling for offering US aid to the Iraqi people so that they undertake the change process. However, our voice was wasted in the midst of the US political conflicts, and thus the war and the occupation created the largest historical problem.

...

(Asharq Al-Awsat) What is your assessment of the US's performance in Iraq?

(Al-Chalabi) The US performance in Iraq is a failure. The United States has spent nearly 1,000 billion dollars in four years in Iraq, and then President Bush comes to praise the victories of the Al-Anbar Salvation Council, whose power and resources cannot be compared at all to those of the US forces. The United States has not succeeded either militarily or politically in Iraq. The United States mostly issue slogans and promote laws, such as the oil law, and the discussion of the Debathification Law, and the elections. All these laws have not been placed on the agenda of the new session of the Council of Representatives. At the political level, the political failure of the US Administration continues, because it still acts in its own way, which could be summarized in fragmenting the situation, and which is a US characteristic. We would like the new US Ambassador Ryan Crocker to succeed in his mission. He is a realistic man and a skillful politician, and he understands the Iraqi situation better than the others. The United States cannot succeed on its own in resolving the problems of Iraq without seeking the help of the Iraqis themselves. For instance, consider the withdrawal of the British forces from Basra; it did not take place because of security problems in the governorate as it is claimed. To say that security problems will erupt when the multi-national forces withdraw is unrealistic. The Iraqis can reach an understanding among themselves, and it is wrong to form new armed groups away from the Iraqi Government, and it is not permissible to form new armed militias in Iraq. National reconciliation ought to be established, which is a necessity; however, this should not be done merely as slogans.

[annabanana]

1. What an amazing thug that guy is...

astounding.

[bahrbearian]

2. Chalabi ,, walking backwards to the door.

[EVDebs]

3. Chalabi was/is an Iranian spy -- Pat Lang called it 'good work'

http://www.subliminalnews.com/archives/000182.php

"""The Defense Department this week halted payment of $340,000 a month to Chalabi's program.

Patrick Lang, former director of the DIA's Middle East branch, said he had been told by colleagues that Chalabi's U.S.-funded program to provide information about weapons of mass destruction and insurgents was effectively an Iranian intelligence operation. "They (the Iranians) knew exactly what we were up to," he said.

He described it as "one of the most sophisticated and successful intelligence operations in history."

"I'm a spook. I appreciate good work. This was good work," he said. ""

[kevinmc]

4. I wouldn't doubt ...

that Chalibi has big chunk of that mising 9 billion dollars socked away.

[Supersedeas]

5. hand-picked by the Admin to be an insider presence