Chalabi Savors Status Gained Outfoxing U.S.

[leftchick]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chalabi20feb20,1,2743554.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true

<snip>

These are heady days indeed for Chalabi, holding court like a 21st century Sidney Greenstreet to a steady stream of dignitaries and journalists, many incredulous at the dazzling revival of his political fortunes.

Improbable as it seems, Chalabi, who faced a criminal prosecution here not long ago and whose office was ransacked in a U.S.-sanctioned raid, may be on the threshold of snaring the reins of Iraqi power.

The 60-year-old politician has emerged as one of two top prime minister candidates of the Shiite Muslim-led political alliance that finished first in a landmark election three weeks ago and will have a slim majority in the transitional national assembly.

Chalabi, an MIT graduate and mathematics wizard, is crunching the numbers, and aides say he has the votes to go all the way within the alliance. A secular Shiite, Chalabi ran as part of the Shiite list but was not affiliated with the two major Shiite parties.

Even if his operatic bid for the prime minister's post falls short, Chalabi has seemingly cemented his position as a major powerbroker in the new Iraq, probably with his choice of top jobs — and opportunities to inflict payback on his many adversaries. From his fortified Baghdad compound, he speaks expansively of a bright future.

[applegrove]

1. Great - another strong man in the making!!

[Rican1]

2. Doesn't seem to be too difficult to outfox the US lately

[VegasWolf]

15. Umm, how much intelligence does it take to outfow bush? n/t

[PurityOfEssence]

3. Of course, he'll want his family's real estate back, too...

Hey, eminent domain's been very good to Junior; it was responsible for his only non-failure in business.

The idiocy of our government is only rivaled by its evil.

Even if this the most clever maneuvering ever (casting Chalabi out, thus giving him credibility with the Shiites) who's to say he'll play ball? Who's to say he'll survive if he tries? What a horrendous mess.

[daleo]

4. This is so improbable!

The idea that Bush's original favorite would eventually gain power is just such a mind blowing development. It makes me doubt every principle of BFEEism I have ever discovered.

[Melodybe]

5. I think that we have been had.

[Eric J in MN]

8. Many of us were skeptical of the Iraqi elections at the time (nt)

nt

[Eric J in MN]

6. If one of the most unpopular men in all of Iraq becomes the

Prime Minister, will the press stop praising the "free elections?"

[Sandpiper]

7. No one got outfoxed, it was all part of the plan

When Chalabi was viewed as a U.S. puppet, Iraqis saw him for the fraud that he is.

In order to make him more palatable, the U.S. had to create the illusion that he was no longer our boy.

[daleo]

9. Even given all that, I still doubt Iraqis would truly support him.

This tends to support the theory that the election was a farce, in my opinion. He had one or two percent of the population favoring him (at best) in every pre-election poll that I saw. So, how does he end up prime minister?

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Bribes and blackmail

He made sure he got hold of Saddam's records. Anyone with any kind of collaboration with Saddam might be blackmailed by him. He also has enough money from the USA to bribe loads of others.

[daleo]

12. Very likely.

Another reason I can't see the election having any real legitimacy in the eyes of most Iraqis.

[Blue to the bone]

11. That theory does make one wonder......

....but is the Chimp really that bright?

[Sinistrous]

14. I am relieved to see that at least one other person saw through the sham

of the "He sold secrets to the Iranians" nonsense.

Chalabi: The neocons' once and future man in Baghdad.

[Calico Jack Rackham]

21. EXACTAMUNDO

I remember the news casts of poor little Ahmed holding up smashed pictures of his family. I turned to my father and said there's the twist, Chalabi will be the next ruler of Iraq.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. Shows that bush/bush controllers never waver. They owe that guy

for leading the wmd charge and providing a "solid" rational for invasion.

The BFEE is more single minded and determined than the old USSR.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

17. Yep

Lied about wmds? No big deal.


Iranian employee? Who cares.

[lovuian]

16. Chalibi is a Bush Man and a traitor!!!

Its amazing the Iraqi's fell for it!!!

[Disturbed]

18. Why do any here credit the Silverspoon Sociopath for

being clever? He is nothing but a puppet frontman and a failure at that job. The reasons that he is the Pres. have little to do with him. The political power of the Bush family,all of their money connections, Multi-corp backing, plus the Whore Media put him in the slot.

[Straight Shooter]

19. Oh my, Praize the Lawd! Will wonders nevuh cease!

:eyes:

[DrZeeLit]

20. Another case of LIHOP

Chalabi was NEVER out of grace w/Bush Co.
That was staged, planned, whatever you want to call it.
The entire world has been "set up."
Another win - set - match for..... Mr. Rove.

[Toucano]

22. There's no way that can end well.

The Iraqi's should deport him.

[reprobate]

23. The Sunni's will likely kill him.

[reprobate]

24. Scott Ritter said bush and co. gamed the elections.

Hmmmm. Guess they had experience from the election here, huh?

Which begs the question: Will americans never learn? And does this nation deserve to continue if we don't learn?

[TexasLawyer]

25. kick n/t

[AlCzervik]

26. When are they picking the new PM? I thought it was today.