AP: Allawi laughs at "rumors" of his bloodthirstiness

[BurtWorm]

The story says Allawi's reputation among Iraqis is growing because of the rumors that he personally kills prisoners.

:wtf:


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Allawi-The-Strongman.html

One persistent rumor has him killing as many as six blindfolded and handcuffed terror suspects held at a Baghdad police station just days before taking power.

When asked about it at a news conference last week, Allawi let out a hearty laugh and called the tale a ``big lie.''

``It's a rumor by our enemies, we definitely would not use the same tactics that Saddam has used, and we are, all of us, myself, as well as my government, far away from these activities.''

Other stories making the rounds vary slightly in their detail, but the message is the same: Allawi, a 58-year-old British-educated physician-turned-politician, is a ruthless man willing to resort to horrifying brutality to restore security to Iraq.

One rumor has him visiting Najaf south of Baghdad and asking the local police chief to line up terror suspects. Allawi takes out a pistol and walks down the line shooting them one after the other.

Another has Allawi, who opposed Saddam from exile abroad for 30 years, at the police station of the Baghdad district of Kazimiyah. Common criminals are brought out. ``You were criminals under Saddam and you are criminals now. You don't deserve to live,'' he yells, before shooting them, execution-style.
...

[shockingelk]

1. So it seems

Paul McGough is either making crap up (independently finding two witnesses who say the same thing) or the interim Iraqi national anthem should be a Who song, "Come meet the new boss ..."

[BurtWorm]

2. What gives me pause

is that these rumors play to Allawi's advantage. He may be laughing at them (if they're not true), but he's probably enjoying the hell out of them.